
Oass £S_5_C//_ 

Book._^_X4Ti^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 



BY SAMUEL M. FIREY 



* 



1904. 

HAMMOND'S PRINTING WORKS 

ROANOKE. VA. 



SEP 26 1904 
rjooyrlsrht en^^ , 

lcL^s<^ xyc. No. 

97^^77 
copy B 






COPYRIGHT 

1904 

BY 

SAMUEL M. FIREY 



^ 



^ 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

My Harp 9 

River of Ivife. . . 10 

Long Ago 13 

Vanity of Earthly Greatness 16 

The Wood 19 

The Old Mill 20 

Mill Mountain 2% 

Natural Bridge 23 

Mountain Brook 25 

The Old Sycamore 27 

A Ivittle Voice 28 

Wings of a Dove 30 

White Man's Book of Heaven 31 

Boyhood 33 

The Red Man 36 

The Contented Shepherd 37 

Ben Bolt's Return 41 

The Country 43 

My Ocean Home 45 

Old School-Ground 46 

Contentment 47 

Submission 49 

Pheasant of the Himalayas 51 

Spring 52 

The Stars 54 

Beautiful Snow 56 

October 59 

Saddest November 60 

The Black Thread 62 

The Poplar Tree 63 

The Linnet 64 

Per Aspera ad Astra 65 

Passing Away . 67 



The Owl, the Bat and Sun 70 

The Fox and the Raven 71 

Another Trust 72 

The Cricket 74 

TheRobin.-.. 75 

Disappointment 76 

Orthodoxy. 77 

Our Mountain Home, Farewell 78 

Wood at Night 80 

To Deceased Grandchild 83 

My Native Hills 84 

The Sea 86 

They Come Not Back 88 

Compassion 89 

So To You 90 

The Talebearer 91 

Blue Alleghanies 93 

Grandpa. ... 94 

A Free Gift 95 

When I Am Gone 96 

Judah's Coming Glory 98 

Free By the Truth 100 

Growing Old 102 

The Meadow Gate 104 

The Two Ways 105 

I^ower Strings 109 

Isle Memore 112 

The Old Man 115 

The Seven Times 116 

John Anderson, My Joe; or Free Silver 118 

Game of I^ife 120 

Coral Builders 1^2 

Maggie Robertson 124 

Lizzie lyinn 125 

Sweet Mary 126 

Highland Mary 127 

Return, My Ivaddie 128 

That Sad Farewell 139 

Bringin' Hame the Kye 130 

Susie Goin' Awa' 131 

Ronald Lee 132 

4 



Ivucie's Comin' 183 

Away to the Wars , 134 

My I^assie 135 

Sweet Nancy 136 

Nannie 137 

Logie 138 

Jamie 139 

I^ass o' tlie Stream. 140 

Scotch Kxile's Song 141 

Willie Ray 143 

Katydids I' the Trees 143 

Glossary 145 

Ruth 146 

The Deluge 147 

1st Psalm ... 149 

51st Psalm 150 

35th Isaiah 151 

52nd Isaiah 152 

84th Psalm 153 

23rd Psalm 154 

42nd Psalm 155 

Borderland 156 

Naaman 159 

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 161 

Woman With the Ointment : 166 

Ahab and Naboth. : 167 

Ahab's Death . 170 

Samson 174 

90th Psalm 177 

Absalom 179 

Pharaoh Overthrown 181 

Song at the Sea o 184 

Hager and Ishmael 185 

Babel's Waters 187 

David and Goliath 188 

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan 192 

Birth of Moses 193 

Moses 195 

Moses' Song 197 

Rizpah 200 

Jacob , 203 

5 



Joseph 206 

Jacob's Blessing 210 

Jacob's Well 214 

Jonah 216 

New Jerusalem 221 

The Blind Man 224 

Lamentations I 226 

Lamentations II 238 

Lamentations IV 231 

Deborah 233 

Deborah's Song 235 

Jeroboam 287 

Jeroboam at Bethel 241 

Abijah's Death 243 

Gideon 245 

Elijah and the Widow 250 

Elijah and Ahab 253 

Daniel 257 

Ways of Truth 260 

Passing Through Edom 271 

Let It Shine 272 

Forever Learning 273 

Forecasting Times 274 

Resurrection 275 

Song At the Nativity 276 

On to Bethlehem 277 

Spring Up, O Well 278 

I Must Sing 279 

The Good Samaritan 280 

Jesus, the Light 281 



INTRODUCTORY. 

THESE poems are mainly the production 
■ of recent years. The work has been a 
pleasing relaxation, and a Lethe to the lan- 
guor of advancing age. 

The words of "The Last Minstrel" have 
special meaning: ''The harp his sole re- 
maining joy." 

They were not begun with a view to 
publication. Delight grew with the work, 
and the poems likewise. At length, the 
desire rose, that they be not wholly lost ; 
that the sentiments therein might be per- 
petuated, and the places loved might live 
in song. 

Being a heavy loser in the panic of the 
early nineties, and having no Maecenas as 
a patron, the means for publication were 
long delayed. We have at length been en- 
abled to bring out this unpretentious little 
book, with an apology for trespassing on the 
attention of the public. 

Some might infer that the writer is not 
wholly friendly to the growing cry for higher 
education. This, however, may be an error. 
He would merely hold out the warning that 
knowledge may be bought too dearly; a 
truth we are too prone to forget. 



The heart is a function higher than the 
head, and the things thereof must be upper- 
most, or a people is sure to degenerate in 
moral sense. Knowledge rightly obtained 
is a great good, cramming a great curse. 

In our Scripture subjects we have tried to 
follow closely the written Word. The 
writer has no use for the creeds and addenda 
of men. 

To make this book more attractive to the 
young, we have given a brief division of 
Scottish song. 

In their sweet pictures of domestic life, 
and their appreciation of the beauty and 
loveliness of woman, the Scotch poets stand 
unrivaled. Subjects of this character I have 
chosen to render in that dialect, because of 
its peculiar adaptation. 

We cast this little pebble into the sea of 
song, in hope that its undulations will not 
cease, till they break in low faint sweetness 
upon distant shores. 

The Author. 



MV HARP. 

My harp's a shell from the deep, deep sea, 
Where the asters and stone-flowers be; 
The tumult of this world's noisy waves. 
Broke not the peace of the pearl's concaves. 

'Tis strung and hung on the ladder high, 
That reaches the way from earth to sky; 
That angels may come and touch the strings, 
And music make to the King of Kings. 

It Vv'ill have no song for chieftains bold. 
Who made great wars in the days of old; 
Renowned alone for the blood they shed. 
The sorrow brought and the ruin spread. 

It will not know of a golden age, 
Inciting the muse to epic rage; 
While the few revel in wealth and pride, 
And the millions drudge for scant provide. 

It will not join with the pliant tools. 

In the ceaseless cry of learning, schools; 

But never a word for the nobler part. 

Who feed the head while they starve the heart. 

Nor will it dive into folly's realm. 
To bring up slime for the jests of men; 
Or stoop to flatter the rich and great. 
To win applause, or to gain estate. 



It will sing of what is true and higti, 
To lift from this to a purer sky; 
The creature she of a higher birth, 
Must woo to a brighter land than earth. 



RIVER OF LIFE. 

O Life's an eventful river, 

With a majesty sublime; 
Its deep tones sounding ever, 

The solemn old hymn of time. 

Through bowers ambrosial sweeping. 
Through canons and dark defiles, 

Is the river onward keeping, 
To the happy Blessed Isles. 

O hear how the hills are singing. 
And the trees are clapping hands; 

The sweetest of airs come ringing, 
From the far off Happy Lands. 

And the Nymps salute incessant. 
And the white swan flaps her wing. 

While the moon fills up her crescent, 
And the wind s sweet odors bring. 

And sages with wisdom hoary, 

And bards with their gems of song. 

And lights from the days of story. 
All bid us like men be strong. 

10 



And warn us be wise and wary, 

For many a foe beguiles; 
The song of Syren and Fairy, 

Would woo from the Blessed Isles. 

And many avoiding Scylla 

Deep into Charybdis fall; 
And shunning the tossing billow, 

Are dashed on the rocky wall. 

For anon the winds come wooing, 

And the waters answer soft; 
And again the storm comes brewing, 

And the waves are lashed aloft. 

Shun well his shore, and Elfin door, 
Whose temples the vine leaves twine; 

Ten thousand wrecks, ten thousand more, 
Are drawn to his mad'ning wine. 

O not for them the golden prize, 

Who are vassals to the beast; 
The pleasant angel in them dies. 

The tiger has bloody feast. 

Climb not for the golden apples, 

Of the fair Hesperides ; 
The sleepless Dragon grapples, 

Them that trespass on the trees. 

Or gold enchained about the neck. 
Is a weight to sink them down; 

No well won stars to light from wreck. 
Or jewel a victor's crown. 

11 



Some like proud Phaeton would drive, 
With the Sun-God's dashing team; 

And not again are seen to strive, 
With the heroes of the stream. 

Some sail by the currents winding. 

To the chambers of the dead, 
Where the thick dank mists hang blinding, 

To the fierce whirlpools ahead. 

Some are with vain Base enchanted, 
Her grottoes and shady bowers ; 

Or the Goblin Islands haunted 
By the Witch of Idle Hours. 

Dare to confront the spectral host. 
That beset Life's mazy stream; 

The Cyclops grim, with all his boast, 
Is the phantom of a dream. 

Then keep thou looking on, right on. 

With a brave heart at the oar; 
Reaching not for the thing that's gone, 

But glory that's on before. 

You may not sail this way again. 

Mistakes you may not undo; 
Success or failure, pleasure, pain, 

Your voyage will not renew. 

Set out when the April blossom. 
Is snowing the orchards white; 

When the river's radiant bosom, 
Gleams red in the morning light. 

12 



Say not in thine heart to-morrow, 
Will be better than to-day; 

For countless the wrecks of sorrow, 
That dashed on the rock Delay. 

To Youth is given the golden keys. 
To the happy autumn's store; 

While Age sits droning at her ease. 
And dreams of the things before. 

When the lids of day are falling. 
And the tides of Life have rolled. 

When the winged hills are calling, 
Sweep into the gates of gold. 



LONG AGO. 

A chord in my lute is strung so low, 
It goes unswept till the breezes blow, 
Brisk from the hills of the Long Ago, 
From dear Old Long Ago. 

Then the notes are soft as Dying Swan, 
Or sigh of Cypress, for loved ones gone; 
And sweet as Apollo's flute at dawn, 
Come dreams of Long Ago. 

And I go back the dead years to see 
Faces that will no more come to me, 
And we talk as oft in childish glee. 
In days of Long Ago. 

13 



We visit the brook we used to wade, 
The trees that gave us the playhouse shade, 
The meadow where barefoot boys we played. 
In green Old Long Ago, 

The garden hedged with its fruits and flowers; 
The wildwood deep with its arching bowers, 
And dripping sweet with the vernal showers, 
Of balmy Long Ago. 

The squirrel is sporting in the trees, 
The partridge pipes from the bushy frieze, 
And the lark rings clear on morning breeze, 
I/ike cheery Zyong Ago. 

The kindly zephyrs delight to bring 
A snow of blossoms to scent the spring. 
And Fays and Fairies dance and sing, 
Like gay Old Long Ago. 

Come greeting our ears sweet songs of yore, 
We hardly had thought to hear of more; 
From lips long passed to the other §hore, 
Refrains from Long Ago. 

As pure our hearts as the dews of mom. 
Remorse has taken away her thorn; 
And we upon angel's wings are borne. 
Like buoyant Long Ago. 

The little shoes that nobody wears. 
The garments we hanged beneath the stairs, 
Are all forgot, and the griefs and cares, 
Since smiling Long Ago. 

U 



For/partings sad were not known to come;^ 
The dear ones again are all at home, 
And Love is guest in the banquet room, 
Like cordial Long Ago. 

And one is there, in her old arm chairj 
And one is sage with his temples bare; 
O days of old, when the winds were fair, 
The Loves of Long Ago. 

When we went out, as knights-errant bold, 
Or sailed like the Argonauts of old, 
The summer seas for the fleece of gold; 
Romance of Long Ago. 

When the winter nursed the baby spring; 
And the sunny slopes came out to sing, 
And all the wild woods of Pan did ring, 
With shouts of Long Ago. 

And we would have built our house to stay, 
In those wee small years of endless May, 
Swimming the brook, and romping the hay, 
In sports of Long Ago. 

But lulling the breeze, the music's low; 
The chord's unswept, and we're loth to know, 
We're back from the Land of Long Ago, 
The halcyon Long Ago. 

And gone is the happy golden May, 
And the dance upon the new-mown hay; 
Our feet are far from the brooks away. 
And hearts of Long Ago. 

15 



The frosts have whitened our looks once more; 
As furrowed our cheek as just before; 
We have drifted years away three score, 
From gladsome Long Ago. 

But a word is in the Book of Truth,* 
We shall return to the days of youth, 
And have no need to bemoan, forsooth. 
The vanished Long Ago. 

*JOB— XXXIIl— 25. 



VANITY OF EARTHLY GREATNESS, 

See how all conquering time hath laid man's trophies in 

the dust; 
And shown how vain is confidence in any earthly trust; 
How into deep oblivion pass the world's great names away, 
Man's feeble systems topple with his towers in decay. 

Our joys are mists, our hopes are shadows of the summer 

oloud ; 
A moment and the shadow flees, so brief the dream 

allowed; 
Where are the mighty of the past, the great of ancient days; 
How are they sleeping in the dust, and hushed the 

voice of praise. 

How like a meteor flashed their names, across the night 

of years; 
They struck the earth as pebble strikes the lake and 

disappears: 
Vainly they reared their lofty pile, or pompous pyramid- 
To ask their name, not worth the while, both name and 

fame have slid. 

16 



Ttie v/ondrous cities that they built, the empires that they 

swayed; 
How are they buried to the hilt, their walls in dust are 

laid: 
The pelican now makes her nest, the wild fox digs his hole, 
The nimble hart in safety bounds across their silent mole. 

That ancient land of swelling Nile, the seat of groans 

and tears. 
How has she stiffened into stone, along the track of years: 
And like a phantom ghost she sits, amid, the drifting sand , 
With ej-es that seem but do not see, a petrifaction grand. 

And Asher's lion, eagle-winged, that grasped the mighty 

East, 
The beauty of Chaldea's land, how is her glory ceased: 
The A.rab pitcheth not his tent, nor shepherds make their 

fold. 

But owls are there and Satyrs 'dance, and dragons dwell 
of old. 

The Medo-Persian bear stood up ajid tore the lion's side; 
At length the Grecian leopard struck, and smote him 
that he died: 

Then parted to his hungry whelps, the quarters of the 
world. 

That they might growl and fight and tear, and be from 
power hurled. 

Fourth in the bloody drama see the dreadful beast of 

Rome, 
Exceeding strong, with iron teeth, and tearing as it come, 
bragging the spoil of all the earth, into its bloody den> 
And stamping with its cruel feet, the residue of men. 

17 



But teetli and horns alike are plucked, and fallen ruins 
show, 

Where stood the mistress of the world in marble 

long ago: 
Now echo through her collonades, is startling to the ear; 

The moon looks through the crumbling walls of Caesar's 
palace near. 

The feet of Albion's kings are set, on coronation day; 
Above the abbey-floor 'neath which, their proud ances- 
tors lay; 

They go to take a jeweled crown, that graced their heads 
before, 

Upon whose heads a dazzling crown, shall glitter never- 
more. 

Who seeks to follow in the beaten path of selfish deeds, 

To write a lasting name below, will strew his path with 
weeds; 

Ambitious dreams shall wilt away, as leaves before the 
frost. 

As mouldering ruins in decay, as snows in ocean lost. 

Who would consent the forfeit pay, though all the earth 

were won, 
To fall a loathsome clod of clay, as he of Macedon ? 
Light recompense a fleeting name, or bauble of a crown. 
To him that sank in blood at base of Pompey's statue 

down. 

But see the little stone cut from the mountain without 

hand, 
Roll on in strength to fill the earth, possessing every land; 
So Truth shall have the kingdom, and dominion without 

end. 
Who builds on her hath rock for base, that Death nor 

Hell shall rend. 

18 



THE WOOD. 

*Tis wise to turn betimes away, into the pleasant wood, 
In nature's courts to spend a day, in cheerful solitude; 
'Tis sweet to banish grief and care, anxiety and pride, 
And sit down like a hermit there, some falling stream 
beside. 

And watch the careless ripples go, adown the rocky bed, 
And hear the murmurs far below, and music overhead, 
The jay and thrush amid the trees, the partridge from 

the ground. 
Pour their gay songs upon the breeze, till all the groves 

resound. 

Or doth the timid squirrel bark, as though he thought to 

fright 
You from his green sequestered park, his kingdom and 

his right; 
Go hold communion with the rocks, the ancient rocks 

and gray. 
Whose tale is older than your books, and hear what 

they will say. 

They'll talk to you of ancient days, and of a time to come; 
They'll frown on this world's maddened ways, and all 

its noisy hum; 
You'll find a lesson in the trees, how they rejoice in song, 
And dance before the gentle iDreeze with music all day 

long. 

Standing with graceful trunks so straight, lifting their 
boughs so high, 

A roof to guard against the heat, a shield from storm 
and sky; 

Or nursing some old splintered rib to husband out his 
day. 

That stood full strong when in his crib your great grand- 
father lay. 

19 



See how they arm in arm do stand, in mutual regard; 

And tear and tear and hand in hand a common brother- 
hood; 

Shut up your books, tormenting maze of science and of 
art, 

A lesson from the Sylvan Fays, will better lore impart. 

Go look upon the daisy bright, or on the cowslip clean , 
Ask them who made their clothes so white, or where 

they learned to spin; 
Consult the birds who labor not, or gather into barn, 
Whence free from worry do ye get, what gives us such 

concern ? 

Or have the frosts of Autumn been, and low the leaves do 

lie, 
This holy admonition learn, and know that you must die > 
And ask if all this drive and show, anxiety and pain, 
Is wise for one who soon must go, and not come back 

again. 



THE OLD MILL, 

Sad night looks on the lone old mill, 

The race is dry, the wheels are still ; 

The moonlight gleams through roof and door, 

And ghostly shadows dance the floor. 

In days far down upon the list, 
I used to bring my father's grist ; 
And joyed to see the wheels go round. 
And hear the dull old rumbling sound. 

20 



And see the burdened sack go up, 
On creaking windless, and the rope ; 
And glassy pond that lay behind, 
With face all fretting in the wind. 

My path lay o'er its banks to school ; 
The ducks and geese swam in the pool ; 
The waters struggled in the grot. 
Where swung the rude old overshot. 

But earthly things may never last ; 
The mill is numbered with the past ; 
We'll see no more, around the door, 
The old familiar sights of yore. 

Sad is the quiet, ranging round. 
Where all was life, and bustling sound ; 
Morning may come and wake the song. 
But she will keep her silence long. 

With us 'twill soon be even so, 
Sound of the grinding will be low ; 
The keepers of the house will shake, 
The wheel upon the axle break. 

Byes in the window, shall be dim. 
And low will sound the vesper hymn ; 
We'll leave our shell along the shore, 
Singing the wild sea songs no more. 
21 



MILL- MO UNTAIN, 

Mill-Mountain, I'll carry thy name in my lays, 
Thou mindest of hills, in my far away days. 
Their forms so impressed on the lens of my ^y^^ 
I paint them to-day on the dome of the sky. 

Mill-Mountain, thy garments are crimson and gold, 
I^ike hues in the robe of the Fairies of old ; 
Thy head in the cloud, thy foot in the wave, 
The fond river windeth his waters to lave. 

Mill-Mountain, I've seen the storm break on thy 

crest. 
The forked arrows fly and the deep shadows rest ; 
Through shadow and storm the brighter thou came, 
I/ike the army of truth from test of the flame. 

Mill-Mountain, the stream gushes strong from thy 

side, 
Like that which the smote rock in Horeb supplied ; 
So crystal, the Nymphs see their beauty and grace, 
And lost skies and woodlands far down in its face. 

Mill-Mountain, the red man is far from thee now, 

He looked till thine image was lost to his view ; 

Then sought hunting grounds, 'neath the skies of 
the West, 

But the home he loved first, was the home he 
loved best. 

Mill-Mountain, I've witnessed thy banners of fire, 

Thy far-flashing torches, en jeweled attire, 

Like bright shields of heroes, returned from the 

wars. 
Or glittering seraphs in crowns of the stars. 

22 



Mill-Mountain, thy story, thy unwritten page, 
Who'll tell of thy youth, or account of thy age, 
Who bade thee, bold Sentinel, rise from the plain, 
And watch till the reign of Old Chaos again ? 

Mill-Mountain, thou sawest when Cheops did build ; 
And Egypt with wonder, great Rameses filled. 
To-day their dry mummies are brought to the light> 
But thy cheek is ruddy, O watch of the night, 

T\Iill-Mountain, thy lesson, O be it not lost, 
May we from the shadow^, the storm and the frost, 
Come mellowed and golden, and smote by the rod ; 
Give streams that shall gladden the City of God. 
May build to the truth, o'er the dust of decay, 
A pillar to stand, while the worlds pass away. 



NATURAL BRIDGE, 

Long have convulsions rent the hills. 
And earthquakes sent their rocking chills, 
Yet that one stone the chasm spands, 
"Cut from the mountain without hands." 

We should have thought thee sunken down, 
Earth's lower bars to rest upon ; 
But thou art nestling at thine ease. 
Suspended high amid the trees. 

As though thou wast some little thing ; 
An oriole's nest upon the swing ; 
Blue, yet amid the green so high, 
Mistaken for the azure sky. 

23 



stupendous plaything! Nature's toy! 
When she was young and would employ, 
Her wit to make a sporting ground, 
Her freaks fantastic all around. 

Vast splintered columns rear on high, 
Their beaten heads towards the sky ; 
And countless falls like bridal vails, 
Go creeping down the rocky dales. 

From what receeding age sublime, 
Far down the vertebrse of time, 
Hast thou stood linked in patience long, 
Between the 01(i World and the Young ? 

And wilt thou still thy hold maintain. 
When the last thunders shake again ; 
And like a flower from the bud. 
The New Earth springs all meet for God ? 

I look and look and look again ; 
Above, below, but can't contain: 
So massive, wonderful and grand, 
Yet God doth weigh thee in his hand. 

Who is this so above us all, 
Counting his great things very small ; 
Who set thee thus in silent rhythm, 
Great Monolith, to sing of Him? 

And I will list' and seek to find. 
That crowning grace, a lowly mind ; 
For God that made, alone is great, 
' ' And doeth things past finding out." 

24 



The stream that takes the lowest place, 
Beneath thine arch in humble grace, 
Tells me the way that I should go, 
The High and Lofty One to know. 

Our fathers saw, and now do we ; 
Soon other eyes will come to see ; 
We pass ; but years are naught to thee, 
Strong emblem of eternity. 



MOUNTAIN BROOK. 

Down through the glen that is dark and deep, 
Skipping the rocks in many a leap, 
O'er flats and sharps, in quaver and crook. 
And wild with noise, comes the mountain brook. 

Beautiful birds with the painted wing. 
Drink and return to their boughs to sing: 
Squirrels come down on the banks to play. 
And tr outlets dart o'er the pebbles gray. 

Now in the shadow and now the shine. 

Under the hazels and under the vine, 

I think of the day when I was young, 

And skipped and danced in the vale with song. 

Now through the meadow, and now the glade, 
Singing a song to the rustic maid. 
And tempting her eye to look below, 
To see her beauty and graces show. 

25 



Never a halt and never a care, 
Onward, right on to the river there ; 
O little brook, may we learn of thee, 
Pressing alike to the boundless sea. 

Stealing by garden, and cot and field. 
Making the teem with abundant yield ; 
Frolicing boys rejoice to wade, 
Cattle delight in the cooling shade. 

Minnies sv/arm in the shallows and bays, 
Lillies and meadow-cups, in the sprays ; 
Swallows come down from the rafter nest, 
And willows bend low to be caressed. 

Grasses are green at thy touch around, 

lyike desert waste where the springs are found ; 

Agoing ever and doing good, 

In happy song and a gracious mood. 

As in the days when the world was young, 
Still art thou singing thy matin song ; 
The nations rise, and the nations fall; 
The forests bow, and the towers tall. 

The chieftain falls by thy stream asleep; 
A thousand years above him creep; 
Man to his dust, and his works decay; 
Still art thou keeping thy smiling way. 

And still wilt thou go rejoicing long, 
When he that now sings, is lost to song; 
No change in thee, but there's change in me; 
Tracks of the years, from the used to be. 

26 



No more 'neath willow, and asli tree shade, 
With a boy's high pulse, I come to wade; 
No more the romance and May-day dream, 
That haunted me once beside thy stream. 

As ever dost thou in song rejoice. 
But this dull ear may not hear thy voice; 
As brisk thy step, and thy heart as gay. 
But we that loved thee, are old and gray. 

Under the sun, or under the moon. 
Morning or midnight, ever in tune; 
What harmonies float along the meads. 
When the loud winds wake thy organ reeds. 

How the old mill-wheel goes round and round. 
Till grist is small, for the village ground; 
O to at last give account like thee, 
When the Judge of All shall ask of me. 



THE OLD SYCAMORE, 

As oft I go back to the dear scenes of yore, 
There come to ine thoughts of the old sycamore ; 
So grand and so tall by the streamlet it grew ; 
And birds of all feathers, for rendezvous flew ; 
So classic and graceful, it swayed in the breeze, 
The symbol of majesty, king of the trees. 

Aloft in the storm, its strong branches were flung. 
With roar of the seas, how they wrestled and 

swung 
That famous old athlete, so gallant and free. 
That chief of the meadow, the sycamore tree; 
With wonder I gazed, when the tempest was high, 
Wild tossing its broad leaves, astray in the sky. 

27 



O many the years since it bowed to the foe, 
And few are the hearts, yet remaining to know ; 
For time, with caprice unrelenting, destroys 
The high and the low, as a youth with his toys ; 
And only in fancy my eye can restore 
That object so sightly, the old sycamore. 

And still the wild music of life's early day 

Is heard; as my fond thoughts would hitherward 
stray ; 

And still her tall boughs sway aloft in the sky, 

As when the blue storms of the Summer went by ; 

Half sweet and half mournful ; for now nevermore, 

Admiring, I'll look on the grand sycamore. 

The winds with sad dirges, go oft to the spot, 
And wail the old athlete, because he is not ; 
And sigh for the Dryad, that sang in the tree, 
Now singing no more by the stream in the lea ; 
And can I revert to the sweet days of yore. 
And not drop a tear to the old sycamore. 



A LITTLE VOICE, 

A little voice died to my ear, 

Now many a day ago. 
And still that little voice I hear. 

In the night-watches low. 

A little heart so loving pure. 
As dew-drops of the May; 

Will long in memory endure, 
Though it hath fled away. 

28 



And little feet that ran to greet, 

And little lips to kiss, 
Sooner will Spring the Autumn meet, 

Than I will cease to miss. 

And little eyes of angel dies, 

A radience lingers yet; 
I seem to trace them to the skies. 

Cherubic eyes of jet. 

A little face of meekest grace, 

And little form so rare; 
Time may efface the mountain's base, 

Their impress will not wear. 

And little shoes long out of use. 

Are laid securely by; 
For little feet they bound so neat. 

Are home-bound in the sky. 

In little mound with cypress round, 
Where Spring's first warbler's sing, 

He sleeps profound in holy ground, 
Till bells of morning ring. 

In this chill air, exotics rare. 
For a brief time are given. 

That we be led to see how fair. 
The flower-fields of Heaven. 
29 



WINGS OF A DOVE. 

O had I the wings, the wings of the dove, 
To cleave the blue ether, like arrow of Jove, 
How glad would I hasten, to some brighter shore, 
Where storms that assail us should gather no more. 

"What pains and repinings, befalling us here. 
What partings from dear ones we had not to spare; 
What changes beset us; we dote on to-day, 
The things that to-morrow, have all fled away. 

We're weary and tired, heartbroken, distressed. 
The chill sea rolls o'er us the waves of unrest; 
This cold world and selfish, these worries and cares. 
These doubts and anxieties, sorrows and fears. 

The flesh so exacting, the spirit so weak, 
When we would be humble, we're far from the meek; 
When we would be pure, then defilement appears, 
Or would we be quiet, come tossing and tears. 

When we would loose others, ourselves are in chains, 
Extracting their mote, and our own beam remains; 
The proud are so boastful, the foe is so strong. 
So fierce is the battle, the conflict so long. 

The wolf standeth, ready to seize on the lamb; 
The bad to devour the good as it come; 
O shelter thou rock from the wind and the storm; 
And bear me thou pinion, from danger and harm. 

Be still, O my soul, till he maketh all new; 
No more the oppressor, the weak will pursue; 
Nor proud look disdainful, or frown on the poor; 
The lamb from the wolf, will need shelter no more. 

30 



For Earth has eye-water to wash out.the sin; 
Intruder may pain till restoring begin. 
But Nature will cast out the Tooth and tha Claw, 
The psalm roll to Heaven, the Dragon withdraw. 

Then let us be patient, and wait for the day, 
The New Earth shall blossom, offence done away, 
We'll go to the fountain, and cleanse us anew; 
Creation's impatient, to rise with us too. 



WHITE MAN'S BOOK OF HE A VEN.^ 

We came a trail of many moons, 

From wigwams 'neath the setting sun, 

With strong arms, through unfriendly lands, 
Where more unfriendly rivers run. 

Our fathers went the long, long way. 
Their path was dark, no light was given; 

But they had heard the white man say, 
That with them was the book of heaven. 

Our people blind, have sent us on; 

They sit in darkness like the night; 
They watch and wait for our return. 
To bring the white man's Book of Light. 

Two braves came with us, who had fought 
Through many wars and many snows; 

At last their moccasins wore out, 
They sleep where your great river flows 

31 



You took me where your women dance, 
As ours are not allowed to do; 

But there was not the book by chance, 
That ive had come so far to know. 

I went with you where candles burn, 
And the Great Spirit's image be; 

But the great book we came to learn, 
They had no care to let us see. 

Pictures of the good land you showed, 
But not the book to guide the way. 

With many gifts our shoulders load, 
But not the book far more than they. 

Can we go back the long, sad trail. 
To where our council-fires burn, 

And tell them that we came to fail, 
And see their hearts desponding turn ? 

Then young and old will droop the head,. 

And leave the council, one by one. 
And not a sigh or word be said; 

Their hopes will set before the sun. 

My people will in darkness die, 
Go a long way to brighter shore; 

No white man's book will guide the way^ 
Or white man come; I say no more. 
32 



BOYHOOD. 

Blithe and merry, gay and free, 
Boy of summers three and three; 
Wealthy with thy ball and bat, 
And the remnant of thy hat; 
With thy feet outside of shoes. 
Rushing through the morning dews; 
And thy pants above thy knees, 
Wading through the streams with ease, 
Thine are joys that never cloy, 
Happy, sunny, singing boy. 

Slight regard for musty books; 
Much for shady dancing brooks, 
Where the blackbird comes to sing. 
And to wash his golden wing; 
Lying in the meadow grass 
When the wavy breezes pass, 
And the air is full of song 
As the summer day is long; 
Would that I could lie with thee, 
And be free as thou art free. 

Now beneath the shady oaks, 
Skipping o'er the mossy rocks. 
Where the bounding squirrel springs. 
And the wood with music rings; 
With a heart as void of care, 
As the freeborn mountain air; 
Merry as the poet's lay. 
Or the whistling bird of May ; 
Love is thine, and Love is great. 
Kings might envy thee thy state. 

33 



Much I prize thy simple mind, 
More than bookworm pale can find; 
Knowing how to answer yea, 
And a downright nay for nay; 
Ivip and heart in full accord, 
True reflection of thy word; 
Brimfull of thy honest grace. 
Looking all men in the face; 
In departing from thy truth. 
May thou never have a ruth. 

Knowledge, yea, but craming, nay, 

Give the cheerful boy his play; 

Knowledge is not all of schools, 

Many graduated fools; 

Trees that lower limbs display. 

At the top have died away; 

So much learning, so much head, 

And the nobler boy is dead; 

Boy endeared to sun and field, 

Heart be pure, though head must yield. 

More by far the lore I prize 
Gained beneath the open skies; 
With the trees and laughing brooks. 
In the shady hazel nooks; 
Strolling through the growing corn, 
In the balmy dews of morn; 
With the birds and with the flowers, 
In this outer book of ours; 
Than from all the musty rules 
Taught in cramming pens of schools. 

34 



Go, my boy, and like a bee. 
Draw the sweets from dell and lea; 
lyessons that will food supply 
'Neath a driving winter's sky; 
Learn how swallow builds his nest, 
How he dips his purple vest, 
Of the partridge and her young; 
How the wild grape vine is hung, 
When the berries will be ripe; 
Tell the plover from the snipe. 

Dance along the silver brook, 
Take the trout by hand or hook; 
Trip along the garden walk, 
With the daisy flowers talk; 
Nature's darling child, at home. 
All things unto you have come; 
Is she not your sister near, 
Or your parent ever dear ? 
Never fear to lay your head 
On your loving mother's bed. 

Childhood will not always last, 
Soon you'll wake to find it past; 
Woo her with the little song. 
But she will not come along; 
Searching all the shady nooks. 
Find her not along the brooks : 
Nor amid the shrubs and flowers, 
Hiding not in leafy bowers: 
Heaven guide you through your play 
Up to childhood's endless day. 

35 



THE, RED MAN, 

Like the wild fancies in a dream; 
Or the dead leaves upon the stream; 
Or like the Winter's melting snow, 
When the warm, balmy south winds blow; 
Or like the hues at set of day. 
Fade, fade the red man's hopes away. 
Sad fate is driving him afar 
To lands beneath the Evening Star. 

Gone is his wigwam from the wood, 

His trail from out the solitude; 

No more his lights and council-fires, 

Blaze round the ashes of his sires: 

Far distant under other snows, 

Those sacred relics now repose; 

The ancient wood is bowing low. 

The hunting grounds more narrow grow. 

No more he darts the rapids through, 
Fearless in his birch-bark canoe; 
His boat has rotted on the shore, 
His arrow cleaves the air no more: 
How with him has the bison fled. 
The bear and antlered deer have sped; 
The fond old paths his feet had worn. 
Grew tired waiting his return. 

That gallant race of Titan blood. 
Have died from all the Summer wood; 
The dark-eyed maid, the warrior bold. 
Have vanished from the hills of old: 
The calumet is buried deep, 
Because the brave, and mighty sleep: 
The wildwood wails their glory done, 
As Hesper wails the dying Sun. 

36 



Gone with the happy days and years; 
Gone where the western billow hears, 
His pale pursuer on his track, 
The hunter falls regretful back: 
When shall his weary feet have rest. 
By the far waters of the West. 
Or when the red man come again, 
When moons shall wax, no more to wane. 

Loud will the woodland ring and long. 
The happy birds will come with song; 
The lights will gleam by lake and shore. 
But comes the red man nevermore. 
But here and there an arrow-head. 
Reminding of the hunter dead; 
The Spirit called his simple child, 
He left his toys along the wild. 



THE CONTENTED SHEPHERD. 

See yonder shepherd, stretched upon the green, 
His nimble flock, along the hills are seen; 
Some gain the cliff to nip the scattered blade. 
Some full, reclining in the lower glade. 

Lo ! at his call, instant from far and near. 
With martial promptness all the host appear, 
Bach trooping eager to report his name. 
And true allegiance to his master claim. 

With frisking glee the lambs complete the race, 
To vent the life that mighty in them plays; 
This way, now that, they romp the grassy hill, 
The tired limbs yet tire not the will. 

37 



Health sits upon his brow, and simple truth 
Doth weave his garland of unsullied youth; 
While on him smiles, in beauty undefiled, 
The face of her he fancied from a child. 

He wakes not at the voice of flattering tongue, 
The cheery lark arouses with her song; 
And when the eve her darkening shadow throws, 
His quiet eyelids drop in quick repose. 

To him the sky one varying picture is, 
The balmy breeze, the glistening dews are his; 
The songs of birds, the voice of waterfalls, 
The roar of forests when the Zephyr calls. 

Sweet to his ear the melodies of mom. 
The baying hound, the loudly echoing horn. 
The sheepf old's bell, the music of the grove. 
The babbling brook that tosses from above. 

Betimes he gains the lofty mountain's brow, 
"When mists shut out the noisy world below, 
And hears the rising song, the lowing herd. 
And roar of torrents down the valley poured. 

Or when the climbing sun has mounted high, 
And checked his coursers in the middle sky. 
How from his lute come witching sounds to bind. 
And still the tempest of the vacant mind. 

Or where the beeches cooling shade diffuse. 
He pours his song unto the rustic muse; 
Or on the golden moss beside the stream, 
Bnjoys the transports of the shepherd's dream. 

38 



For him no flaming passions vex the breast; 
The morn is gladness, and the eve is rest; 
Contentment his, beyond the meed of kings, 
Each night to him a softened pillow brings. 

No greedy gain that noisy marts can yield, 
May ever tempt him from his hawthorn field; 
His cottage gives a welcome to the guest. 
And barreth only care and vain unrest. 

What though his bowl brims not with costly wine, 
Or tables groan with luxuries malign ? 
Yet nature liberal, empties in his lap 
A thousand things delicious, full of sap. 

Inured to labor, little doth suffice. 
Nor need he learn the crafts of shrewd device; 
Would scorn to use base flattery's cunning art. 
To worm a slimy way to king or court. 

I^et others venture on the stormy seas, 
The thirst of wealth disturbeth not his ease; 
Enough for him to tend his simple flock; 
He passes rich with his ancestral rock. 

Glory he seeks not on the tented field. 
He sighs that e'en a lamb its blood must yield; 
Aloof he keeps from noisy passion's strife, 
That dyes in red the labyrinth of life. 

Hears from afar, and takes the other side; 
In deep serenity the seasons glide; 
No pleasure findeth he in deeds of blood, 
To slay the tenants of the peaceful wood. 

39 



Seems strange to you no eagerness is shown, 
To learn the city's crooked ways unknown? 
To use her snares, distorting what is right, 
And in her paths delusive, find delight ? 

No mind hath he, her crafty wiles to play, 
With face to smile, and heart the other way; 
Then toss at night upon a bed of care, 
And wish the darkness passed, the morn were here. 

This far from him, who in the quiet vale, 
With wind and woods his senses may regale, . 
Confides in nature, bounteous finds her store, 
Takes what she gives, nor lusteth after more. 

What though the proud know not his humble gate; 
Secure his home, from fortune's scorn or hate, 
Around his lowly cot the woodbines cling, 
And sweetest warblers of the morning sing. 

How safely rests he by his cheerful fire, 
And reads how others venture and aspire, 
As one who, looking from the pleasant shore. 
Beholds the wreck, yet is himself secure. 

In love of nature glows his cheerful heart. 
But gives to nature's God the greater part; 
Invokes the winds, the brooks, the groves to sing 
To him whose bounty doth all fulness bring. 

For him how peaceful roll the golden years. 
Till comes the eve with neither clouds nor fears: 
At peace with God, and man, and strong in trust, 
Awaits the blessing of the true and just. 

40 



BEN BOLT'S RETURN. 

Hey-day, it's yourself, Ben Bolt? 
We thought that your sands had run; 

We scarce could think you on life had hold, 
So many the years agone. 

1 knew by the frank old smile ' twas you, 
I saw by blink of your eye; 

You bring me Spring and the sunshine, too, 
O light of the days gone by. 

You carry me back across the snows, 
To the years that went too soon; 

When the thorn came not upon the rose, 
And December was like June. 

You make me to be a boy again, 
And we wade the pebbly brooks; 

And we romp and run in shine and rain, 
And lay in the shady nooks. 

The years were small when urchins all. 
We strolled bright fields together; 

Our hearts flew high as wild fowl fly. 
Were light as wild fowl's feather. 

O Ben, my boy, o'er the same old last, 

We were fashioned, you and I; 
In the same old mould, our life was cast, 

And the tears come in my eye. 

You mind how we sat beneath the trees. 

Just under the grassy hill; 
With the cooling breeze, and brook to please, 

And the quaint old noisy mill. 
41 



But all is still 'neath the hill to-day, 

And the old mill race is dry, 
Of the merry boys that came to play. 

There are left but you and I. 

You often think of the school, dear Ben, 
And the old play-ground around; 

But few are the trees that yet remain, 
And the master's under ground. 

And how the hall with our voices rung, 

And the girls were gay and fair. 
And sweet was the song dear Alice sung. 

The love of the dark brown hair. 

Now green her grave 'neath the willow shade, 

And the birds her requiem sing, 
And a granite slab's above her laid, 

And the snow white roses spring. 

Another yet we can not forget, 

While we on this planet stay; 
The sweet Jeannette, with the curls so jet, 

And face like a smile of day. 

But the happy times will come no more, 
O'er the green and pleasant hills; 

For those we loved in the days of yore. 
Are gathered at other rills. 

O Ben, thou link to the golden years, 
Long, long may your leaf be green ; 

And firm your step on the downward stairs. 
As your own true heart within. 

43 



THE COUNTRY. 

My heart's in the country, her thrice happy fields, 
Her far waving grain, and her rich golden yields; 
The hoary old woods, the glens and the bowers, 
The rocks and the streams, the birds and the 
flowers. 

My heart's in the country, O there would I stay, 
Afar from the din and the tumult away, 
Afar from the greed, from the jostle and fret. 
The base over-reaching, and broils of the street. 

The cold inhumanity chilling to ice. 

The traps and the pitfalls of Satan's device. 

The smile on the face, and the frown in the heart, 

The wiles and the crafthoods, that rule in the mart. 

Peace, peace to the country, her freedonj from care, 
Her pale honest face beaming out everywhere; 
Her sweet cordial greetings, her cheery hearthstone, 
And plain simple manners divorced from the town. 

Her meadows so moist, and her pastures so green, 
The bleating of sheep and the lowing of kine; 
The sweet scented blossoms, the newly mown hay. 
The echo of horns and of bells far away. 

O love to the country, and loved all the more. 
As downward I go to the dim hither shore. 
The customs of trade are so wedded to wrong. 
The nobler man dies with the guile on his tongue. 

Sweet harp of the country, the pipe of the quail, 
The song of the lark, and the dove's plaintive wail; 
The twitter of swallow, the rustle of corn. 
And chanticleer's song in the dews of the morn. 

43 



My heart's in the country, her hands are so clean, 
While art is so nude and so lewd and so mean, 
How oft through her pathways fond memory strays, 
And breathes the sweet incense of happier days. 

O dear is the country, my sweet shady home, 
When yet I knew nothing of Greece or of Rome: 
And where I met God in the cool of the day. 
In the walks of the garden, and ran not away. 

Hie me to the country, the lines of her face, 
Aglow with the beauty of sunshine and grace; 
Her calm tranquil evenings awaken a quest, 
For fields that are peaceful, and hills that are blest. 



MY OCEAN HOME. 

I love to roam her boundless dome. 
To sweep across the churning foam; 
I love, I love my ocean home. 
The blue and billowy sea. 

I lay my head upon her breast, 
And fearless rock me into rest; 
As bird within its tossing nest, 
Upon its wind-swept tree. 

Free as the wind, and free as sound; 
No tyrant forges chains around; 
Her leaps are like the roebuck's bound, 
So frolicsome and free. 
44 



Wrinkles of years, and brows of care, 
Furrows of time she will not wear; 
Forever young, forever fair, 
And ever charming she. 

Rapine and pillage, fret and war. 
Worry and greed upon the shore; 
Her realm from human rage secure, 

that's the home for me. 

Whene'er I step upon the land, 

1 seem to feel the despot's hand; 
And turn a- weary to the strand, 
To mount the billow's crest. 

Sailing upon the shining main, 
Or calm or storm, or sun or rain. 
The sea-child knows not to complain, 
The sparrow knows its nest. 

What strange forms round about him glide, 
And eye him from the briny tide. 
And joy to follow at his side ! 
As if to be his guest. 

Let the waves leap to kiss the moon; 
Or loud winds pipe a dancing tune; 
Till midnight steals across the noon; 
And Bast becomes the West. 

What if at last he's called below, 
Where coral tombs rise white as snow. 
And alabaster sea-flowers grow, 
What king hath euch a rest. 

45 



OLD SCHOOL GROUND, 

'Twas many and many a year ago, 

I trudged, an urchin, through the snow, 

Where now there stands no house to show. 

Then rude old oaks were standing round. 
Their quaint old roots above the ground, 
Where now may not an oak be found. 

But other trees do stand in place, 

To yield their shade, and sylvan grace, 

Till time shall them in turn efface. 

A simple stone of granite red, 
With meager annals of the dead, 
Stands at the sleeping teacher's head. 

The churchyard then had dwellings few, 

But now are many lying low. 

And tombs the rust of winters show. 

The old rock church that rose so nigh. 
That counted snows a century. 
Gone with the generations by. 

My schoolmates mostly in the ground. 
One here, one there, is lying around. 
And few yet clinging can be found. 

The yeomen of the the fields below, 
Are not the arms of long ago, 
That laid the golden harvest low. 

The old turnpike still wends its way. 
But the red coach so prim and gay, 
Has passed with other things away. 

The little stream beneath the hill 
Where oft we waded at our will 
Meanders o'er the pebbles still. 

46 



CONTENTMENT, 

O sweet content and peace of mind, 

The richest boon to man; 
Which pomp and state can never find, 

But which the lowly can. 

The poor are rich did they but know, 
How much to them remains; 

No brighter is the sunset glow, 
To Lord of all the plains. 

For them the birds as sweetly sing, 
The day doth shine as bright, 

And hills and woods enchanting ring, 
And flowers yield delight. 

Cheerful the humble plowman sings, 

And shepherd pipes his reed; 
The sleep is sweet that labor brings, 
^ Content is wealth indeed. 

The poorest he who murmurs most, 

Though he be millionaire; 
The man of cherry heart may boast. 

Although his purse be spare. 

O who would have the clouds disperse, 
Because they bring the rain; 

All seeming ill will reimburse, 
If we do not complain. 

Let frowning tempests roar and toss, 
And shake the golden pears; 

Rich inner gain for outer loss. 
To him who meekly bears. 

47 



Sorrows of Job like winged flame, 
Swept every earthly good; 

His loss a double gain became, 
While he in patience stood. 

The richest he that in good deeds, 
Hath treasures laid in store; 

His wants no greater than his needs, 
No craving after more. 

The ship that spreads the widest sail. 
Must brave the wildest storm; 

She that turns little to the gale, 
Is most secure from harm. 

Envy not then the rich or great. 

True riches is within; 
Content itself is great estate, 

Though little in the bin. 

Knowledge may not this boon attain, 

However much you know; 
The heart must fail when all is brain, 

And only tares may grow. 

Sweet peace is not by place or power, 
By this world's gain or loss; 

In all the fickle skies can shower. 
Or fortune's favor toss. 

But he who wings the will above, 

The hills of carnal sense, 
Will dwell in sweet content and prove 

A God of recompence. 

48 



SUBMISSION. 

'Tis of tlie sculptor, not the stone, 
To make the hidden beauty known; 
'Tis for the marble to submit. 
Graver to fashion and to fit. 

To bring out feature, form and face, 
The outlines of angelic grace, 
Glory all hitherto unseen, 
Is for the Master's chisel keen. 

Start not when he shall strike a blow, 
Who may with equal wisdom know ? 
And if the blade should cause a smart, 
Know that his mercy tempers art. 

' Tis not in him to bring a pain. 
Save that the loss should be our gain; 
When Bethel's Stone was Jacob's rest, 
That night the patriarch was blest. 

Of Samson's lion honey came, 
Sweetness and strengthening for the frame; 
So when his chisel sharp and keen, 
Would pare what is unsightly seen. 

Without a murmur let it go; 
It should awaken thanks to know, 
Whatever suffering now be thine, 
The nearer, rest of the divine. 

Rest, the reward of pain and loss; 
The crown o'erbalances the cross; 
And would we then true wisdom know, 
We need to learn this letting go. 

49 



"Wisdom to him who pays the price, 
And makes the needed sacrifice; 
Our fondest wishes may be crossed, 
The blessedness outweighs the cost. 

Go not away as young man sad. 
Because he great possessions had; 
But sell, and give, and follow Truth, 
Have treasure where there is no ruth. 

Many the pang severe the throe, 
The Master wise may give below; 
The more the pain our patience tries. 
The better fitted for the skies. 

l^he thorns may wound these hands of ours, 
In thoughtless reaching down for flowers; 
We'll reach v/ith care the second time; 
The wounded heart learns how to climb. 

The seed must die before the flower, 
From mould of Autumn springs the bower 
And loss is needful to impart. 
The richest harvest of the heart. 

Then let the surgeon have his end; 

He only doth a cure intend: 

If aught angelic in us lie, 

O who would have that beauty die. 



50 



PHEASANT OF THE HIM ALA YAS. 

Beautiful bird of the golden plume, 

And the princely hues so rare, 
That hast thy home in the snowy dome, 

And the pure sweet mountain air; 
And comest not here thy suit to mar, 

In the care-worn dust of earth, 
But dwellest afar like shining star, 

In land of thy lofty birth. 

Where waters leap from the icy steep, 

As pure as the emerald dew% 
And rainbows play in the silver spray, 

Till thy plumage take the hue; 
Had I a home in some tranquil dome. 

High over life's tossing sea, 
To dip in its foam I'd never come, 

But would stay aloft like thee. 

Above the care of this troubled air, 

And its hollow mirth and glee, 
With the spirits there as pure and fair, 

As the sun above is free; 
O, dip not thy crest, or soil thy vest, 

In the waters foul below, 
Secure thy nest and a tranquil rest. 

And dwell in thy hills of snow. 

For here the bright bow of hope and bliss. 

Will hover but not to stay. 
Will pledge amiss of a transient kiss, 

Then over the hills away; 
And the spotless robe, we here put on, 

Is soiled, ere the sun is set, 
And the sky, overgrown with clouds, comes 
down. 

In tears of a vain regret. 

51 



SPRING. 

The shaking winter ceased to wail above the buried year, 
Her sackcloth garments laid aside, and brushed the drip- 
ping tear; 

Out of her sere and cloudy grief bursting the sombre 
gloom, 

Comes rosy spring with smiling face in all her snowy 

bloom. 

She crossed the dewy meadows and the grass sprung in 

her steps, 
She passed along the woodlands and the leaves leaped in 

their cups; 
The merry warblers music made to herald on her way, 
The cowslips and the daisies peeped and violets were gay. 

The clouds caught inspiration and in tears of gladness 

fell, 
That shot the sunlight through the trees and waked the 

daffodil; 
The little springs rejoicing rose, the rills began to leap, 
'Till brooks and rivers could no more their tides of tribute 

keep. 

All nature felt the mighty pulse of blood rush in her 

veins. 
And Summer lying in the seed made haste to burst her 

chains ; 
The little lambs with brimming life, leaped back and 

forth at will, 
And forth and back across the rocks, and down the 

grassy hill. 

52 



The birds in gallant choirs met and sung their valentines, 

' Till rung the woodlands with their songs and shook the 
clustering vines; 

The swallow dipped his shining breast into the glassy 
stream, 

Then hied to build his hanging nest behind the rafter- 
beam. 

The aroma of hyacinths is floating in the air, 

And locust blossoms sweet perfume is wafted everywhere; 

The kine delighted leave the straw for living pastures 

green, 
The horses roll and frisk and claw, from side to side 

careen. 

How glad we leave the smoky town to roam the dripping 
woods, 

Or through the blossomed orchards stroll or by the toss- 
ing floods; 

O, who would nature's charms forego these pleasant 
walks of spring, 

For all enchanting art can show, or mammon's gold can 
bring. 

Be ours to make a shining path across the sunny years, 
To help the morn of gladness break from out the night 

of tears; 
To start the bloom and chase the gloom, and wake the 

golden lays, 
The sweet perfume of noble deeds and everlasting praise. 

53 



TO THE STARS, 

Ye wonderous globes that liglit tlie gorgeous sky, 
Our Father's brilliant house, so great and high; 
With what amazement look I up to you. 
And our own littleness contrasted view. 

Grow ye not weary in your ceaseless flight, 
Forever onward, through the fields of night? 
We halt to rest along our weary way; 
To you the night is one unending day. 

Your smiling eyes are never closed in sleep. 
The watch appointed do ye ever keep; 
We sons of Adam hasten to our dust, 
Unnumbered ages do ye hold your trust. 

Grand was the natal hymn your choir sung. 
When Earth, a jewel, from the casket sprung; 
Another gem to glitter on His way, 
Whose glory 'lumes the vast immensity. 

Ye brilliant spheres, it dazzles me to think 
How hoary time has trod along the brink; 
Tossed systems headlong down the gaping pit, 
Since first your steady growing lamps were lit. 

Ye saw the sea roll furious on the land, 
And mountains topple like the shifting sand; 
The beds of ocean to the heights were hurled, 
And Chaos wrapped the circle of the world. 

Yet are ye now as when your morning song 
Rung with the shouts of Heaven the skies along; 
In all the beauty, glory of your youth, 
Undimmed, unchanging emblems of the truth. 

54 



As the strong ocean that is losing still, 
And spending ever, doth forever fill ; 
Ye ever giving of your blessed light, 
And shining ever are forever bright. 

Ye orbs so lofty in the void profound, 
The wings of light grow weary in the round; 
Outspeeding thought, yet such the mighty space, 
Cycles must roll ere they complete the race. 

So far remote, yet each from other far, 

The vast immensity precludes a jar; 

With suns and systems darting through the gloom, 

Kthereal ocean, making ample room. 

And each so vast, our world to each a grain, 
Contrasted to the sands along the main; 
Our nearer system, with its stars and sun. 
Were like a journey with a span begun. 

Countless the systems, mighty and immense. 
Like drifting flakes in Heaven's great expanse; 
Imagination in the view is lost. 
And man, vain man, shrinks to a mote of dust. 

And yet a Father's care is over all, 
Down to the little sparrow of the wall; 
And not a feather falls, or down can fly. 
Unnoticed by his all-observant eye. 

I'm curious still, ye shining orbs of light, 
To know the dwellers in those lands so bright; 
Move they in orbit of the moral law. 
Without a blemish, and without a flaw. 

55 



Loving their Maker with a perfect love, 
And glowing with the beauty from above; 
Did creature there maintain his first estate, 
Or fell he headlong by the tempter's hate? 

Has bloody war there left his track of fire. 
And cruel hate provoked Jehovah's ire? 
And there, as here, doth all Creation groan. 
And travail with the culprit in his moan ? 

Or dwell the parents there in Bden still, 
Steadfast in love, and faultless in their will 
In forms that bow not to the weight of years. 
In youth immortal as the fadeless spheres ? 

Ye silent worlds, teach us in patience bide, 

'Till we on rapid wings of light may glide; 

And range from world to world, and see and know 

The secrets now denied to us below, 

And learn what wond'rous love and glory reigns. 

Across those boundless, bright, eternal plains. 



BEAUTIFUL SNOW. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow. 
Shouting and rolling, we slide and we throw; 
Rich hanging gardens let down in a night. 
Fields of the Fairies, ne'er blossomed so white; 
O it is well that this dark world below, 
See something pure as the beautiful snow. 

56 



The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
White swarms of Heaven are hiving below; 
Sing us a song from the fields of the light, 
Garments so clean as no fuller can white; 
Hang your fair picture on tree and on wall, 
He that hath made hath no darkness at all. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow. 
Fear not, little flake, the way you must go; 
Barth welcomes thee on her bosom to lie, 
Reaching her arms, little child of the sky; 
Fear not to pass through the cloud and the rain, 
The bright, shining way to your Heaven again. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow. 
Well that you came, though so soon you may go; 
Came one thus briefly, and entered our door. 
Seemingly of us, we knew nothing more; 
Winds blew so rudely he waved us good night. 
Then we perceived 'twas an angel of light. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow. 
Bringing dear thoughts of the sweet long ago; 
The bells have the ring of some distant lay, 
Or drowsy tinklings of folds far away; 
And sands of our life, so drifted and dry, 
Are watered with springs of the days gone by. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
O thou little storm-bird, where wilt thou go; 
Where find thee lodging, on what wilt thou feed? 
Lo ! the deep drif tings have buried the seed; 
*' There is a kind hand, in whom I confide. 
He that hath sent me will amply provide. ' ' 
57 



The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 

Warm down to shield, when the savage winds 
blow; 

Spread thy soft feathers and cover thy brood. 

The fierce, hungry north- wolf's prowling for 
food; 

They'll peep from thy bed like chicks from the 
wing. 

When Phoebus comes back with smiles of the 
spring. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
Sculpture that passes old Hellas to show; 
Arches so graceful, and cornice so rare, 
Chisel of Phidias may not compare; 
Carving thy wonders in marble so white, 
Wide as the seas in a watch of the night. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
The lights and the shadows alternately go; 
The smiles and the tears, the joys and the fears, 
And thy wavy plumes all blend with the years; 
Dear ones we've borne to their resting place low, 
Tears letting fall with the beautiful snow. 

The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
Singing the praises of one as I go; 
He bid me wash in the stream at his side, 
Fearing and doubting, I trembling complied; 
Lo ! in less time than I make you to know, 
I was made white as the beautiful snow. 

58 



The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow, 
But gone the transports of sweet long ago; 
The moon on the hills shines glistening and 
bright, 

But I'm not coasting this rare winter night; 
I'm back with the hearts I once used to know, 
Now sleeping under the beautiful snow. 



OCTOBER, 



Hail to the Prince of the Painters, 
Passing the Masters of old; 

Tints of the wizard enchanters, 
Palette and easel of gold. 

Such glory put on wood and glen. 
And hang on the mountain high; 

That Paradise vno^j seem again. 
Redemption of Earth be nigh. 

The lark shall rise in early light. 
And carol his sweetest lay; 

The deer be spellbound at the sight, 
And eagle forget his prey. 

The adder have no mind to sting, 
And calves with the cubs shall lie; 

The leopard not incline to spring. 
Or lamb of the wolf be shy. 

That bear and cow shall feed alike. 
And the lion shall eat straw; 

The vulture drop his horny beak, 
And the hawk his thorny claw. 

59 



That sparrow no more falcon fear, 
Nor the shrike shall tear the dove; 

The Old War God shall shed a tear, 
In the harmless lap of Love. 

The little child have no offense. 
And lay in the panther's paw; 

And Tooth and Tare be banished hence, 
And Love shall be strong as Law. 

On canvass leafed from sea to sea. 
And high as the wing can soar; 

Paint the halcyon things to be, 
When nations learn war no more. 



SADDEST NOVEMBER. 

' Tis the bleak and lonesome November, 
The year has grown shriveled and old; 
The year is now withered and old; 
Let us stir the last dying ember. 
For the wind is chilly and cold. 

Now past is the Indian Summer, 
The last sunny span of the year; 
The weird mystic land of the year; 
That lies on the warm tarn of Glimmer, 
And hard on the chill land of Sere. 

The leaves how they rustle, yet clinging, 

Or swept on the eddying blast; 

Or borne on the undulate blast; 

How mournful the song they are singling, 

A sigh for the days that are past. 

60 



Hear that widowed turtle complaining, 
Her mate stricken down by her side; 
Her consort fell dead at her side; 
The fowler came cruel and feigning, 
She called, but he never replied. 

The forecasting birds of migration. 

Have gone to more genial sky; 

Have flown to a sunnier sky; 

One song from the great congregation — 

* ' The old summer home a good-by . ' ' 

I miss their sweet notes in the wildwood. 
Their music in meadow and field; 
Gay plumage in meadow and field; 
Recalling sweet days of my childhood. 
And joys that no winter congealed. 

I sigh for the verdure all blasted. 
And slain are the beautiful flowers; 
All strewn are the sweet-scented flowers; 
I think how one once paled and wasted, 
The beautiful boy that was ours. 

We grudged him right sore to the angel, 
Whom Heaven so kindly bestowed; 
That Heaven in favor bestowed; 
We knew not he was an evangel, 
To woo us the Heavenly road. 

And now when the woods are all sombre, 
And only the cypress is green; 
The dark mournful cypress is green; 
We think of that saddest November, 
He left for a sky more serene. 

61 



THE BLACK THREAD. 

The Master Workman, at his loom, 

Did weave the threads of grace and doom; 

"White threads or black, as men might spin, 

As wrought in light, or wrought in sin; 

Or blue or red or green or gray, 

All wove He in his tapestry ; 

And men saw but the tangled side, 

And did the Master's work deride. 

Some said, w^ho is the Lord, I see, 
Nor beauty plan or harmony? 
Where is the evidence of mind? 
All chaos and confusion blind, 
What gain had I, if I instead. 
Had woven me a snow-white thread? 
For chance is master of the whole. 
Designer's ousted of control. 

But saith the master, ' * come and see, 
The right side of my tapestry; 
That black thread, you in evil spun. 
In background of my work is run; " 
The contrast gives a brighter glow 
To lights that in my picture show; 
Better it proves my wise design; 
I needed that dark thread of thine. ' ' 

In vain you seek my arm to stay, 

Or find a path to flee away; 

I take whatever thread you spin, 

In harmony I weave it in; 

Thus Pharoah proudly thought to cope, 

But for that end I raised him up; 

Too late the many see design, 

Be wise before thy sun decline. 

62 



THE POPLAR TREE. 

I'm musing on yon poplar tree, 

Stript by the autumn's blast; 
Save on the topmost boughs there be, 

A few leaves clinging fast. 

The dress of beauty she had on, 

The sun-bright summer day, 
All withered by the frost and gone; 

How has it passed away. 

I think of friends that once I knew. 

In brighter days gone by; 
How are they sleeping 'neath the dew. 

As leaves all withered lie. 

The few that yet remain to know. 

Of wrinkled brow and sere; 
Their thin locks bleaching like the snow. 

How lonely they appear ! 

And soon, how soon will all be gone, 

Life like a summer's day; 
Where is a promise of a dawn. 

Or sign of coming day? 

A few brief hours to hail the sun, 

Then see her parting beam; 
So soon life's fitful race is run, 

The shadow of a dream. 

What saith the leafless wind-swept tree, 

Is this man's hopeless lot? 
To mingle with the dust and be, 

Forevermore forgot ? 

63 



Nay, see each leaf has left behind 

It's little bud to sing; 
* ' He that hath made is good and kind, 

We're coming in the Spring." 



LINNET. 



The snow had scarcely gone away, 
Before there came a linnet gay; 
Warbling his sweet roundelay, 
"Jeter, jeter, jeter, jeter; " 
Sure I never heard a sweeter. 
Then he gave a quick repeater, 
All at dawn of day. 

Hear the sweet bird, I quickly said, 
Sure this old world is not all dead; 
Just then came from boughs o'er head, 
"Jeter, jeter, jeter, jeter;" 
Brisk and cherry, blithe and sweeter, 
O it did me good to meet her, 
In her merry lay. 

Sing, gayest little Poet, sing, 
The Orpheus of the early spring; 
My tree with thy sweet cadence ring, 
"Jeter, jeter, jeter, jeter; " 
Come in its branches, build thy nest, 
Unburden here thy tuneful breast, 
And thy love song bring. 

64 



This lesson learned I in her song, 
To sing and cheer the world along; 
Be a gladdening sunbeam strong; 
" Jeter, jeter, jeter, jeter; " 
'Twas not the words, not the meter, 
But joy of heart made it sweeter; 
Be a sunlight ray. 

Now, as I go along the street, 
How few the joyous hearts I meet; 
How few with smiles of gladness greet; 
"Jeter, jeter, jeter, jeter;" 
How this world would be completer. 
That be sweet, that now is bitter. 
If we with our smiles would greet her, 
Be a linnet gay. 



PER ASPE.RA AD ASTRA. 

Earth had to travail in her throes, 

Ere order out of Chaos rose; 

The land go down beneath the main. 

Be lifted up again, again. 

Ere verdure grew on hill and plain. 

From low to high is nature's way, 
From throe to birth, from night to day; 
That is not first the spiritual. 
But that is first the natural, 
AH light must struggle through the vail. 
65 



Must come the stem before the bloom, 
The glory is beyond the tomb; 
First is the labor, then the rest, 
Repentence comes ere we are blest. 
The best wine always is the last. 

The spring lies in the winter's breast. 
The flowers spring from her unrest; 
Our joys will flower out on high, 
When past this chilly wintry sky, 
The bow of beauty, by and by. 

The seed must downwards send a root, 
Bre up can spring the graceful shoot; 
In troubled tossings of the crown, 
The root will strike the deeper down. 
And higher be the glory shown. 

Through rudimental truths so dry. 
We upward mount from earth to sky; 
Until at last we reach the stars, 
Above the wars, above the jars, 
Where glory shines and nothing mars. 

From trodden clusters of the vine, 
Extract we most delicious wine; 
The Psalmist all the sweeter sings. 
Because he swept the lower strings. 
Attuned to heart that sorrow rings. 

The 'hero is by warfare tried, 

As gold^by fire is purified; 

The heart must learn how not to yield, 

And how a conquering faith to wield. 

And press through "Satan's thorny field." 

66 



So Jacob must to Egypt go, 
And that hard tribulation know; 
Before the Lord can raise him up, 
To be the child of faith and hope, 
That with the Anakim may cope. 

And who is He raised up on high, 

Above all principality; 

And brought such wonderous gifts to men; 

But he {hat went the lowest down, 

And through the cross obtained the crown. 



PASSING AWAY. 

Hear the little streamlet say, 

Passing away; 
Tripping, skipping all the day, 
O'er the silver pebbles gray; 

Passing away. 

Flit the shadows o'er the plaiu» 

Passing away; 
Falling leaves come not again, 
Brief the vapor and the rain; 

Passing away. 

Bursts the bubble on the stream, 

Passing away; 
Vanished soon the idle dream, 
All things are not what they seem; 

Passing away. 

67 



Hear the sighing of the breeze, 

Passing away; 
Groaning in the forest trees, 
Roaring like the mighty seas; 

Passing away. 

How the shadows longer grow, 

Passing away; 
Fainter as the snn is low, 
' Till at last they cease to show; 

Passing away. 

Tolls the bell in yonder tower. 

Passing away; 
Warning giving every hour, 
Soon the shades of night will lower; 

Passing away. 

Move the clouds along the sky, 

Passing away; 
Move the generations by, 
Soon shall move both you and I; 

Passing away. 

Ruby lip and rosy cheek, 

Passing away; 
Beauty's bloom were but a freak. 
It were almost vain to seek; 

Passing away. 

Yon old crumbling water-wheel. 

Passing away; 
Ruins of the village mill. 
Now so very, very still; 

Passing away. 

G8 



Written on the lilly's bloom, 

Passing away; 
On the pathway to the tomb, 
In the antiquated room; 

Passing away. 

Such the doom on all below. 

Passing away; 
Soon our feet will cease to go, 
In the paths we used to know; 

Passing away. 

Vain will morning on us call; 

Passing away; 
We shall answer not at all; 
Footsteps heard not in the hall. 

Passing away. 

Going, going all that live, 

Passing away; 
Coming, coming wave on wave. 
Moving to one common grave; 

Passing away. 

Princely blood and noble name. 

Passing away; 
High in galaxy of fame, 
But the flashes of a flame; 

Passing away, 

Landmarks on the track of time, 

Passing away; 
Roll the centuries sublime; 
Barth no longer in her prime; 

Passing away. 

69 



Here foundations insecure, 

Passing away; 
Point the rock that standeth sure, 
That we build to move no more, 

Or pass away. 

Build on Truth doth wisdom say, 
She dwells for aye; 

Truth shall never know decay; 

A thousand years as yesterday; 

Axioms are here to stay; 
Be wise to-day. 



THE OWL, THE BAT AND SUN, 

The owl, the bat and birds of night 
Did meet as oft was their delight; 
To pass in social chat away, 
The hours long till set of day. 

For summer suns are slow to flee. 
Along their path from sea to sea; 
And speech allayeth hungers smart. 
When meal from meal is wide apart. 

And tongue's a ready helper too 
"Whenever mischief is to do ; 
And free to let her arrows fly, 
And bring down reputations high. 

So neighbors all came by a share, 
Of the abuse was heapen there; 
Nothing of good and much of spleen, 
As you perhaps have often seen. 

70 



The sun himself was touched upon, 
As very tyrant on his throne; 
To lengthen out the summer day, 
Curtailing thus their hours of prey. 

A busy body with respect. 
For those who don't his claims reject; 
Seeking to rule the world by might, 
And caring little wrong or right. 

At length the sun — "Your speech I hear. 
And marvel you are dead to fear ; 
When with such ease might I consume, 
Bach weak-eyed son, yet you presume; 
But malice nor revenge is mine, 
My only answer is to shine." 



THE FOX AND THE RA VEN. 

A Raven black sat in the trees, 

A hungry Fox was nigh; 
Firm in her beak a bit of cheese. 

Sly Reynolds did espy. 

' * O bird of beauty that you are. 
What shining glossy wing, 
I'm sure your fame should sound afar. 
Could I but hear you sing. ' ' 

Enough, the beak is opened wide. 
The honied words have won; 

Sly Reynolds puts the cheese inside, 
And much enjoys the fun. 

71 



Another Fox from Blarney Isle, 
Thus gained his end with ease; 

Expert with honied words to wile, 
He v/on the silver cheese. 

" Top o' the morning to yonr Grace, 
As glad I take your hand, 
And look into your noble face, 
As Sovereign of the land. ' ' 

"Thy servant will not plead in vain. 
Your bounty is not scant; 
I feel your high-born heart will deign, 
A crown or two to grant. ' ' 

The flattering words have gained the day, 

The easy dupe complies; 
And Brin, smiling, turns away. 

And carries off the prize. 



ANOTHER TRUST. 

Sly puss had feasted many days, 
For mice did much abound; 

Without resort to cunning ways , 
Her sides grew plump and round. 

Thus reasoned she within herself, 
The mice were made for me; 

That I should catch the little elf. 
It was ordained to be. 

72 



Began the mice to melt away, 

As snow before the sun; 
Began to wane the feasting day, 

And fasting had begun. 

And then the mice to puss' plea, 
Did put in this demur; 
* * Within the chart of liberty. 
All stood in equal fur." 

So they resolved to stay away 
And struck for higher ground; 

And puss grew lean from day to day, 
No sustenance was found. 

Then she conceived to make a trust. 

Suspended from a pin; 
Head downwards where the elfin must, 

Go by to reach the bin. 

And there hung she as still as dead : 
Quoth she I'm sure to win, 

No otherwise can they be fed ; 
I have them cornered in. 

One sage old mouse among the rest. 
Then counseled to withdraw; 

And not the treacherous skin molest. 
Though it were stuffed with straw. 

73 



THE CRICKET, 

O little merry, mirthful thing, 
How is it thou hast heart to sing, 
And make thy chimney corner ring. 
So constant night and day ? 

Thy home is sooty, dark, and drear, 
Yet thou the very soul of cheer, 
Though all the fields around are sere. 
And friends are far away. 

Thou little Minstrel of the hearth, 
These crumbs reward thy song of mirth, 
Oft as the howling storms go forth, 
O turn thou in and stay. 

Singest thou of the golden past. 
Of things too wondrous sweet to last, 
Before the clouds their shadows cast, 
O'er life's young, sunny day? 

Or art thou gifted of the stars. 
To tell of things behind the bars. 
Beyond the worry and the wars, 
Thou little gypsy Fay ? 

" Not magic lore, or wizard light. 
Prompts me to sing this lonely night. 
Who made me doth my song indite ; 
Learn from the cricket's lay." 

' ' For night will sometime come to thee. 
And lonely will thy hearthstone be ; 
Then may thy song ring out as free, 
And night be turned to day. ' ' 

74 



THE ROBIN. 

O robin let me learn of thee, 

With joy to skip and sing; 
And from all painful care be free, 

Whatever the day may bring. 

Knowing not whence thy food must come, 

Nor where thy rest shall be. 
Yet wheresoe'er thou art is home, 

And thou art full of glee. 

Did I so little see from whence. 

My lodging or my fare, 
Little the joy would I dispense; 

Unnerved with drooping care. 

But thou art well content withal, 

And never asketh more; 
No worry lest some want befall, 

Or care to heap thy store. 

How greater gifts hath God to me. 

Bestowed of house or home; 
Yet how distrustful oft I be. 

In dread of want to come. 

A lesson truly thou has taught, 

I shall be wise to learn; 
To banish anxious care for aught, 

That gives undue concern. 

Let not thy instinct show more trust, 

Than faith in me reflect; 
Who feeds the robins surely must, 

My every want respect. 

75 



So, rain or shine, come smile or frown, 
Know a kind hand is near, 

To rain the needful manna down, 
Rebuking all our fear. 

Then let our psalms roll on the air, 

December as in May; 
The heart that feels a Father's care, 

Will never go astray. 

O come, then, my companion be, 

Instruct me to be wise ; 
And teach me where I cannot see, 

To trust the darkened skies. 



DISAPPOINTMENT, 

O brother, dear brother, the stars are so bright, 

If only we had two or three; 
They twinkle like gems in the brow of the night, 

I wish you could get one for me. 

And see, brother, see, not all are so high. 
For some have sunk down to the rim; 

They are touching that dark tree there in the sky. 
You could climb and reach from the limb. 

Or if you would take papa's rod of bamboo, 

For that reaches almost to God, 
I'm sure if you hit, they would drop from the blue. 

And fall softly down on the sod. 
76 



And mama would like so if she could have one; 

And who knows but we could get more; 
And, brother, I think we should have so much fun, 

Lets be off in the morning at four. 

But sister, dear sister, they leave in the night. 
In the morning they v/ouldn't be there; 

For I've seen some falling before it was light; 
They left a long trail in the air. 

And I saw them fall on the mountain I thought. 

Maybe if we go we shall find; 
For many have gone there and shiny things brought, 

It may be the stars left behind. 

So, up at the dawn and away with the day, 
And dreams as the mountains are high; 

But furious puppy flies out in a fray 
And gone are their dreams of the sky. 



ORTHODOXY. 

Thus orthodoxy spake one day: 
Ours is the sure and only way; 
Whoso will yield assent thereto, 
Alone can please the Only True; 
Whoso will question or oppose. 
Or counter to the letter goes; 
On the dark mountain wander wild 
And must be held perdition's child. 

77 



Who in full credence will embrace, 

Already hath he won the race; 

But he that cavils and inspects 

Is well condemned if he objects; 

For though the word says search and see, 

It means to find the same as we; 

Search not except it be to own. 

Our doctrine true and ours alone. 

In that you full assurance find, 

Since the most learned have divined; 

Beside herein is urgent need 

To save our teaching and our creed; 

And surely what is ages old, 

Full well may current pass with gold; 

Who yet dissents we'll water-log, 

Or cast him from the synagogue. 



OUR MOUNTAIN HOME 
FAREWELL, 

Adieu, adieu our mountain home. 
Long dear to love and me ; 

We many weary leagues must come, 
Bre we again shall see. 

How free from worry, broil and strife. 
In inward peace profound ; 

From overstrain and fret of life, 
We here asylum found. 
78 



What though uncouth the dwelling stand, 

In shade of hills so high, 
We envied not the mansion grand, 

Or aught that gold could buy. 

B'er since the day we first were one, 

What happy years we knew; 
Green be the hill* when we are gone, 

The skies unrivaled blue. 

How doth the cot imploring look; 

Our first born saw the light; 
And pattered in the dancing brook, 

The livelong day till night. 

O Love, we'll not forget the days, 

'Neath the uncanny roof; 
But oft remember in our lays, 

When we are far aloof. 

Thou little brook still babble by, 

And fill the glen with song ; 
We'll often seem to hear thee nigh, 

Though miles between are long. 

And often see the falling spring, 

Leap like a bounding fawn. 
And hear the woods in concert ring, 

With echoes of the dawn. 

And hear the play of mighty winds, 

Up in the boughs so high; 
And breathe the perfume of the pines. 

And wild flowers blooming nigh. 

79 



But go we must, our eyes are set, 
To leave the pleasant home; 

High heaves the bosom with regret,. 
And tears unbidden come. 

Farewell, the old engraven beach, 

Rare ferns in mossy dell. 
And poplars tall, adieu to each; 

Our mountain home farewell. 



WOOD AT NIGHT. 

O when the golden sunset glow has faded quite away, 
And all the birds have sought their bough, and sung 

their latest lay; 
When Hesperus, in sea-green vest, is heralding the night. 
And Dian with her silver horns is holding up the light. 

When drowsy flocks no longer hear the tinkling of the 
bell, 

And plowman to the milkmaid hath begun his love to tell; 

When whippoorwills are in the sky, and bats begin to 
feed. 

And honied dews are coming down on garden, field, and 
mead. 

When croaking frogs are in the pond, and flies have lit 

their lamps. 

And all the minstrels of the night are singing in their 
camps; 

When lights are gleaming through the pane, and twink- 
ling in the stream, 

O then the woodlands will fulfil your most romantic 
dream. 

80 



Musing you stroll along the way, when dark against 

the sky, 
The trees stand out like spectres, and the weird shadows 

fly; 
The old worm-fence is staggering near, with bush and 

vine o'ergrown, 
Its corners with the purple leaves of autumn deeply 

strewn. 

Maybe you'll start some timid hare, nipping the dewy 

herb, 
Or partridges on whirring wing, whose quiet you disturb; 
Or chance you'll roguish reynolds meet, scouting the 

wilds afar. 
On spoil intent with hostile feet, to wage the feathered 

war. 

Go stand beside the aged oaks, scooped with the tooth of 

years, 
I/OW sounding like this hollow world, unlike what she 

appears ; 
Now sights and sounds so altered seem, as if were not of 

earth, 
And we as in another world are quickened into birth. 

Like some old Caliil, you may seem to walk romantic 

bowers, 
Or like enchanted poet dream of fairer w orlds than ours, 
For shrouded spirits faintly formed, are lifted to the 

sight, 
And echoes from the silent world, ring through the halls 

of night. 

81 



And unseen insects hum and ehirr around in slumbering 

lays, 
That make sweet memories in your stir, with thoughts 

of other days; 
It may be in that solemn hour, you touch a vanished 

hand; 
Or hear a voice of other years, from out the silent land. 

Now sylvan harps soft music make, and the cicadas sing, 

Or chance the elfin owl flits by, like goblin on the wing; 

Betimes the winds come wooingly, with fragrant blos- 
som smells, 

And check the knolls, with shine and shade, and shake 
the moonlit delis. 

May chance not far a cottage fair, shines in the glassy 

stream, 
That winds and sparkles through the trees, with here 

and there a gleam ; 
You lay beside the brawling brook that's fretting o'er 

the rocks, 
Where little Naiads cast their hooks, and bathe their 

wavy locks. 

What balmy health is in the breeze, the world unfretting 

lies. 
And whispers quite unheard by day, now wake you with 

surprise ; 
Still as the land beyond the wars, you and the world 

alone. 
And over you the wondrous stars, and everlasting throne. 

83 



TO DECEASED GRANDCHILD. 

Frail little flower, a few brief montlis to bloom, 
Taste sorrow's cup, then drop into the tomb; 
So quickly ended is life's little day, 
The world were scarce an inn along the way. 

lyike some stray comet, that was hither drawn, 
To shine a little day and then be gone; 
So did'st thou brighten us a little while, 
Then disappear, saluting with a smile. 

No resting place, not e'en thy mother's lap; 
Were this life all who could explain the hap; 
God's way reversed, the innocent do pine; 
The guilty boast along the smooth decline. 

Meek, uncomplaining in thy life of pain, 
The lesson taught us, long will it remain; 
Thou twinest tendrils, round our inmost heart; 
They draw us still, though long we've been apart. 

Thy little hand so wasted, wan and thin. 
Still beckons us a better world to win; 
Still to press on, instant in faith and prayer, 
To meet thee where the little children are. 

We scarce could see, so blinded with the tear. 
The angel bands, awaiting anxious near; 
And with what joy, and on what wings of love, 
They bore thee to thy beauteous home above. 

83 



MV NATIVE HILLS. 

Wending my steps or Bast or West, 
My native hills I love the best; 
Or river winds, or streamlet gleams, 
My heart leans to my native streams. 

A crystal fountain at the door, 
Bandusia's waters not as pure; 
How from the deep blue rock it burst, 
All brimming to relieve my thirst. 

The purple lilacs by the wall, 
And near the poplars great and tall; 
And birds that flew on wilder wing, 
Would perch aloft and sing and sing. 

The garden nestled on the stream, 
From out flew many a boyish dream; 
The winding meadow green and long. 
That listened to the blackbird's song. 

Its grassy fleece so wet with dew. 
The little stream that capered through; 
Its banks rich with dandelion gold. 
Our standard in those days of old. 

There willows bowed in lowly grace, 
To kiss the gentle streamlet's face; 
And oft the cowslips would we cull. 
And gather hazels from the dell. 

There through his tunnel ran the mole 
And the shy muskrat dug his hole; 
And little feet disdaining shoes 
Oft dashed aside the morning dews, 

84 



The thickets dark on either side, 
In echo to our voice replied; 
And sycamores stood great and tall, 
That did the summer storms enthral. 

The graceful elms arrayed along, 
Bnticed the birds of pleasant song; 
And barky locusts ivy-bound, 
Begirt the highway winding round. 

Our path to school we daily pressed. 
Hard by the sky-larks humble nest; 
And flew the butterflies and bees ; 
And birds to the wild- cherry trees. 

Rose fields and uplands ribbed with rock, 
Sacred each mound and brake and nook; 
Here in his cleft the rabbit hid. 
From yonder copse the partridge fled. 

On yonder naked tree so tall, 

The eagle ventured to his fall; 

Yon wood the squirrel heaped his store. 

The oaks lift up their heads no more. 

The golden mountains framed around, 
Gave to this fairy picture bound; 
The objects last I would discern, 
The first to greet on my return. 

How oft their summits would I climb. 
When far the landscape spread sublime; 
And wonder if Blysian field, 
Could such inspiring prospect yield, 
85 



Just why the birds should sweeter sing, 
And longer poise on painted wing; 
Or sky should be more indigo, 
And grass should take a greener hue. 

Or brooks should dance themselves to rest, 
And swallows come to dip the breast; 
Just why my rocks and trees and sky, 
Should so excel, not mine to pry. 

Impress me not to vain debate. 
My native hills I must elate; 
However dear your streams may be, 
Yet mine are dearer unto me. 

Though long in stranger lands I roam, 
To turn to them is going home; 
And when my sun shall set in night. 
Fond thought will bring their lines in sight. 

The odors of the new-mown hay. 
Sweet incense of my summer day; 
May not contrast with the perfume, 
That's wafted in the thoughts of home. 

When mem'ry's eye no more shall see, 
Faces and forms so near to me; 
Or mem'ry's ear no more shall hear. 
Sweet sounds of old were once so dear; 
These eyelids drop in slumber long. 
This lute be ever dead to song. 



THE SEA. 



The sea the vast old rhythmic sea. 
The winds sweep o'er her strings in glee; 
Hear the loud ringing of her bells, 
The music of her sounding shells. 

86 



Her organ grand is full of song; 

Now soft and low, now loud and strong; 

As fingers moving down tlie keys, 

May strike witli force, or press with ease. 

A minstrel hath she been of old, 
And sang with rude Old Choas bold; 
Nightly doth she her lyre attune, 
Love-making to the tidal moon. 

Now doth she toss her curls on high, 
And heave her bosom to the sky; 
And weareth in her shining vest. 
The jeweled stars upon her breast. 

Well she supplies with bounteous hand. 
The pressing needs of every land; 
Quickens the harvest, cools the breeze, 
Renews the springs, revives the trees. 

And like a benefactress meet. 
She keeps the salt, and gives the sweet; 
The winds ill-laden on the shore. 
Bathe and retain their ills no more. 

Well may her song be wild and free; 
Mother of storms and rivers she; 
Her voice is in the brook and stream. 
Her smile is in the morning beam. 

She spreads a soft and peaceful bed, 
For all who come to lay the head; 
She sings a dirge, and wraps a pall. 
All free the royal funeral. 

87 



THEY COME NOT BACK, 

O they come not ba ck to their place of old, 
And they sleep so still, in the qviiet mould, 
Though their secret great hath ne'er been told, 
Yet still are they withholding. 

On what silver shore, by the waters pure. 
With the bowers ambrosial leaning o'er. 
In what meads of mossy, velvet floor. 
Is your bright life unfolding? 

Or say, are ye much on the the airy wing, 
And from world to world, in a moment's spring, 
And are time and space quite a vanquished thing, 
Our hearts are filled with wonder. 

Or is it as naught, either time or space. 
Is it all in all to behold his face; 
And are all things merged in His dear embrace, 
How oft we're led to ponder. 

O the loves of old, do ye still maintain. 
Can the crooked be straightened out again, 
And the loves once lost, can we yet regain 
In your bright world up yonder. 

O that it were given us now to see, 
But for one short hour, what ye may be, 
In the enchanting birthright, of the free 
The land beyond the shadow. 

I^or the boats that go down beneath the hill 
And carry our loved to the shadelands still, 
Bring us no one back that our hearts may thrill, 
To learn your wondrous story. 

88 



For lone is the nest, since the birds have flown, 
But in what green dell, and what sunny zone, 
By what chiming brooks, are your sweet songs 
known, 
Where is the golden meadow ? 

O on what summer morning, bright and high, 
In the sweet and transporting, by and by. 
Shall we meet again, and embrace for aye, 
All in one happy family. 



COMPASSION. 

Knowest thou the word compassion, 
Fellow-feeling doth it mean, 

One with you in every station. 
One in joy and one in pain. 

Are you wounded, I am wounded. 

Are you broken, so am I, 
Have the robbers found and plundered. 

Left you by the way to die ? 

Mine it is to learn your sorrow 
And to come just where you are, 

Mine it is your grief to borrow, 
And to bring the needed care. 

Hands to bind thy wounds and lift thee, 
Beast to take thee to the inn, 

Costs to pay and more to gift thee, 
When I shall return again. 

89 



Can father see his child in grief, 
Brother know a brother's woe, 

Will he not run to bring relief 
And not be in sorrow too ? 

lyikewise do if you would neighbor, 
Him that falls among the thieves^ 

With compassion God doth labor, 
First and best thing that he gives. 

Sun doth shine on good or evil, 
Rains descend just or unjust, 

Waiting not to ask or cavil. 
Only shines, and ever must. 

As the ocean drinks the rivers, 
So love taketh all our care, 

All the grief his eye discovers, 
Gives he to his heart to bear. 

As the ocean ever giving, 

Yet remaineth ever full, 
So his cup of joy receiving. 

Suffering cannot annul. 

Can you then discern the spirit 
And adopt it for your own. 

You'll the smile of heaven merit, 
When He cometh on His throne. 



SO TO YOU. 



Alone and in hunger, in pain and in moan, 

I asked them for bread, and they gave me a stone; 

They said I was indolent, worthless and vile; 

And they gave me the shoulder, instead of a smile; 

Yet walked they with high head along the proud aisle, 

90 



All wounded and broken and ready to die; 
I lay by the roadside, and many passed by; 
One said "he is drunken," and cared not to look, 
Another said, "justice was met to a crook; " 
And so lay I, helpless, sore-wounded, forsook. 

All burning with fever, and racked to the brain, 
I pleaded in silence, relief from my pain; 
But some had not learned of my illness at all, 
And some thought that others would tend to my call; 
While some had no care, if the worst should befall. 

I cried in my thirst, " O give unto me drink," 
The cry was unheeded they left me to sink; 
My garments were thread-bare, all tattered and torn, 
I shook on the cold hills, half naked, forlorn. 
They said "it were well had he never been born." 

In prison they cast me, and dark was the cell, 
The air and the diet, offensive as well; 
But none came to visit, or learn my distress, 
The right, or the wrong, or to bring me redress; 
Each had his own business to make a success. 

I lifted my hands, there were prints of the nails. 
My feet bearing witness, they hung on the rails; 
My visage was marred where the blood trickled down; 
My temples were pierced with the thorns of the crown; 
" As ye to me did, so be it to you done. " 



THE TALE-BEARER. 

One man I knevv^ and so may you. 
Famed for the mischief he could do; 
And all because he never knew. 
Just how to hold his tongue. 

91 



It clattered in its hollow shell, 
Like that you see in yonder bell; 
A little cracked as you could tell, 
When you had heard it rung. 

He let it go as fast as could, 
And little caring bad or good. 
Unsettling all the neighborhood, 
The while our Nero sung. 

He went from John to James to tell. 
What John had said or James as well, 
Till each upon the other fell, 
In fistinimics strong. 

Thus did he set the town afire, 
As by a live electric wire; 
Sparing not parson, saint or squire; 
For whom he would, he stung. 

He flew from root to branches high, 
Eavesdropping and tale-bearing sly, 
Till all the street was in a fry, 
This Doeg came along. 

For like that treacherous Bdomite, 
No rest had he by day or night; 
His secret burned to come to light, 
A fire on his tongue. 

And needing help to keep, he went, 
From confidant to confidente, 
Until a score assistance lent 
To keep the secret strong. 

93 



But pent up waters will not stay; 
Wide tore the feeble dam away, 
And broad and vast the ruin lay; 
Ungovernable tongue ! 

He might have been considered wise, 
Had he but made the sacrifice, 
To close his lips and lift his eyes, 
They guilty, downcast hung. 

Close shave made he of prison cell; 
And some said he deserved it well; 
"To have and hold" until the knell, 
Of his false lips had rung. 



BLUE ALLEGHANIES. 

O fair blue Alleghanies, 

Thy hills are standing strong, 
But she I loved in better days. 

Skips not thy streams along; 
She of the darkly rolling eye, 

She of the raven hair, 
And charms that with Calypso vie, 

So graceful and so fair. 

O lovely, native mountains, 

My lay must pass away; 
And yet will spring thy fountains, 

And yet thy hills will stay; 
But she I loved those golden years. 

Will wake no more to song, 
Then spring ye fountains of my tears, 

And flow my griefs along. 

93 



Adieu ! ye lovely Wlls, adieu ! 

Farewell, ye crystal streams, 
The tie that bound me once to you. 

Binds only in my dreams; 
Faded the lily in the dell, 

The daisy on the lee, 
And she whose love I cherished well. 

Will not come back to me. 



GRANDPA. 



See Grandpa sit by the chimney blaze, 

In his cushioned old arm chair; 
And the forms of friends of other days, 

Slide into the shadows there. 

Of the friends he ne'er shall see again, 

Yet ne'er can be forgetting; 
The shades of a sadly vanished train. 

He e'er must be regretting. 

The dial points to an hour late, 

And the rest have all withdrawn; 
But the nearer Grandpa draws his seat. 

As dreams of the past come on. 

Visions has he of moonlight hours, 

In the burnished nights of old; 
When one walked with him through the bowers, 

Now walking the streets of gold. 

And fragments of song she used to sing, 

And ringlets of nut-brown hair. 
Come blending with picture, book and ring. 

And tresses she used to wear. 

94' 



She seems to shine like a lustrous star, 
In the golden nights of yore, 

To beckon him to those hills afar, 
Where the shadows fall no more. 

But the chimney log unblazing burns, 
Till of one is made the twain ; 

Then as piece unto its piece he turns, 
And the flames revive again, 

The old man says, * ' I can fairly see, 
That our love shall never die; 

Though she sundered be awhile from me. 
She will join me in the sky." 



A FREE GIFT. 

Ask, for a hand on high. 
Is pledged to give to thee; 

A grand harp of the sky, 
Swept only by the free. 

Sweeter than Orpheus knew. 
Or carnal ear hath heard; 

Softer than Hermon's dew. 
Or note of singing bird. 

No shell from ocean's cave. 
Strung by Apollo's hand; 

No rhythm of the wave. 
Such sweetness can command. 



With glad songs in the night. 

Full gushing as a well; 
Flushing the soul with light, 

Only its chords may tell. 

Down in the nether deep, 
The soul awaking strain, 

Would bring up from her sleep, 
Buridice again. 

O if you did but know. 
The music in the strings; 

The sweetness and the glow. 
The life on golden wings. 

You long ago had found, 

And streams of sweetness given; 
The desert wastes around, 

To quicken souls for Heaven. 



WHEN I AM GONE. 

This world is destined to roll on. 
This planet grand when I am gone; 
No star-dust on the Milky-way, 
Will cause Apollo's wheel delay. 

The morning star will shine as bright, 
And Dian lift her horns at night; 
And lovers linger in her raj'', 
As when I trod the paths of day. 
96 



The skies will clear and cloud and rain, 
The snows will drift again, again, 
And tempests roar and floods will sweep, 
When I shall low and silent sleep. 

Flowers will bloom and birds will sing, 
And all the air with music ring; 
Mountains will kiss the clouds on high. 
And glory gild the sunset sky. 

The gay will laugh and skip and play, 
Bach man intent upon his way; 
And few will speak of him that's gone, 
And hath no say beneath the sun. 

As stone is dropped into the pond, 
A boom, and all encloses round. 
Then all is still as was before, 
So shall I leave this pleasant shore. 

My path shall overgrow with weeds. 
No furrow bright with shining deeds; 
And none shall ask who went along. 
Or wake my story into song. 

All futile is the paltry aim, 
To stir a little dust of fame; 
To fan a breeze one little day. 
That in the next is passed away. 

Small solace to me in the thought. 
That all must come and share my lot; 
Or that I sleep with seer and sage. 
And men renowned of every age. 

97 



That all the dread decree must hear, 
Enter the same dark gate with fear; 
And that the silent land may boast, 
A greater than the living host. 

This comfort rather be to me, 
To hear a voice across the sea; 
Fear not when thou art called to go, 
The waters shall not overflow. 



JUDAH'S COMING GLORY. 

Land of the morning and the morning star, 
What glory gilds thee from the days afar; 
Still turn our eyes to thee in anxious look. 
As panting heart turns to the water-brook. 

Thou land midway between the earth and sky, 
The cradle land of higher destiny; 
Six thousand springs have melted winters' snows, 
Six thousand harvest floods the Jordan knows. 

Six thousand years vain man has told his tale, 
But Judah's story is most wondrous still; 
Brightest the visions that thy prophets saw, 
Soundest the precepts of thy moral law. 

Thy harps resounding with the songs sublime. 
Still ring entrancing down the night of time; 
Distant vibrations rolling through our shells, 
Sweeter than Naiads singing in their cells. 

98 



Thy heroes pass the demigods of yore, 
Thy triutaphs all the tales of fabled lore; 
Thy visitations as thy lights so bright, 
Are cast on background of the blackest night. 

That awful prayer, still resting upon thee, 
His blood on us, and^on our children be; 
Thy lamentations sounding down the years, 
Would move old Memnon to the meed of tears. 

But Jacob's trouble shall not always last, 
The times of woe, decreed, will soon be past; 
Shall with them pass, the blindness from thine eyes, 
And higher still thy tide of glory rise. 

For they shall look on him whom they have pierced, 
And mourn as father mourns his one dearest; 
The dew of tears shall cause new life to spring. 
And back to Salem's hills new glory bring. 

No more thy harp shall ring with plaintive wail, 
Again the rose shall bloom in Sharon's vale; 
No more the Moslem shall pollute thy shrine. 
Once more on Zion's hill thy temple shine. 

The tower of David shall be built again, 
Wherein shall hang the shields of mighty men; 
No more shalt thou from thy high seat be hurled, 
Thy glory be the lifting of the world. 

Thy sons shall come from earth's remotest ends. 
From hills of snow, and where the banian bends ; 
With shout triumphant, and with tears of joy. 
The bending father, and the bounding boy. 

'' L.ofC. 



The winter's past, the rain is nearly gone; 
The time of flowers, and singing birds is come; 
Arise thou from the dust, and come away, 
The shadows flee, the dial points to day. 



FREE BY THE TRUTH, 

Not all are free who loud declaim, 
And strike with sword or dart; 
Freedom resides not in a name, 
No outward something of the frame, 
But inward of the heart. 

Not all are free who bravely fight, 
Tyrant of hill or plain; 

Not though the bards may sing their might. 
Or sculptor carve their name in light. 
And music lend her strain. 

Can he be free whose wayward will. 

Enslaves the nobler mind; 

Whom greed, and power, thrall and thrill ; 

Or hate and envy fire at will. 

To truth and justice blind? 

Is he a freeman held in self. 
In iron chains of pride; 
Or who in paltry love of pelf. 
Dwells lone and far a hermit Elf, 
All claims of love denied ? 

Or he who swayed by servile fear. 
Dare not express his mind; 
"Whose tongue is tied by creed or jeer, 
Though truth may never dawn so clear; 
"What but a slave confined ? 

100 



Can he be free, who license takes, 
In all the fields of sense; 
Whose higher manhood never wakes, 
Bound like the prisoner to his stakes, 
Till judgment call him hence ? 

Or he who knowing duty, would 
Rather be base than poor; 
Declines to do the thing he should, 
Refuses cost of being good, 
Though spumed from Heaven's door? 

He is not free, whose ruling aim. 
Is love of vain applause; 
Who crooks his path to the acclaim, 
Of shifting crowds to win a name; 
Though justice suffer loss. 

Was Pilate free, who washed his hands. 
Then to the rabble turned ; 
Crouching with fear at their demands. 
Deserts the truth who bleeding stands. 
Alone, rejected, spurned? 

Was Felix free, who would postpone. 

To more convenient day; 

The baser passions on the throne, 

Higher by lower overgrown. 

Till shrunken in decay ? 

But Paul was free, though iron-bound; 
What nobleness of will; 
Wishing his own sweet joy abound. 
In those that wound the fetters round. 
And strove to do him ill. 

101 



O he is free, on whom the truth 
Hath dawned in melting light; 
And turned from every way uncouth, 
To seek her with the zeal of youth, 
And make her his delight. 

Her will and work with his agree; 
He enters into rest; 
Nothing that is, or is to be, 
Can e'er disturb his harmony, 
Who by the truth is blessed. 



GROWING OLD, 

His walk was in the fifties when I met him on the stairs, 
Amid the brown outcropped the gray, a few encroaching 

hairs: 
I marked his step was not so brisk, as it was won't to be. 
Not like the nimbleness of youth, when he was twenty- 
three. 

Slow went he up and coming down, was in no hurried 
pace, 

I minded how he used to skip, as if to win a race: 

Now he would halt his team a-field, and lean upon 

his plow; 
"I'm not the man I used to be," he often would allow. 

"I've seen the day" he'd sometimes say "I knew not 

how to tire, 
Would climb the mountains to the sky, or go through 

wind and fire:" 
'Twas plain enough unwelcome age was began to 

overcast. 
And yet how loth was he to gage, that youth and prime 

were past. 

102 



Betimes he'd seem to fly at fate, and urge Old Nature on; 
But victory was not complete, the battle was withdrawn: 
'Twas hard he found to make the bricks, and did not 

have the straw, 
And wiser to withhold the kicks at stem relentless law. 

A little closer I observed, he clung to hearth and home; 
And changes in his daily fare, he welcomed not to come: 
"Who feared neither rain or shine, respected wind and 

weather, 
Lest flesh and spirit should decline to keep house together. 

Now more he sought unto his staff, and helps to aid his 

eyes, 
And more suppressed became his laugh, and louder grew 

his sighs: 
As you have heard the autumn wind, low moaning in the 

grove. 
The pleasant things she used to find, have gone a long 

remove. 

More seldom now he sought the wood, and took his dog 

and gun, 
Or angling by the river stood, in pelt of wind and sun; 
And more he sought a gentle steed, when he would 

ride or drive, 
And cared not for the Jehu speed, he loved at twenty-five. 

His life and talk were in the past, the farther he would 

go. 
Higher it rose into the vast, eclipsing all below; 

His early home and early friends, his childhood's trees 
and streams, 

Were more than half his thoughts by day, by night they 
were his dreams. 

103 



THE MEADOW GATE. 

The pretty stars are shining love, 

It rounds the hour of eight, 
The time you set to meet me dove, 

Down by the meadow gate; 
Sweet odors from the new mown hay, 

Are wafted on the breeze, 
And sweet the little streamlets lay. 

Unto the willow trees; 

love, the joys of Aiden wait, 
Our meeting at the meadow gate. 

1 have so much to say to you^ 
I cannot sa}* by day, 

dear one if you only knew, 
Come then without delay; 

1 hear the sound of fairy feet. 

Light skipping o'er the ground, 
I know it is my dear one sweet. 

Her love to me is sound; 
Come dear, the joys of Aiden wait, 

Your footsteps at the meadow gate. 

I whispered in the pale moonlight. 

My sweetest words of love, 
And hours passed as minutes bright, 

There with my little dove; 
And never bird amid the bowers. 

Wooing his pretty mate, 
Could duplicate those happy hours, 

Down by the meadow gate; 
For making love, I estimate, 

There's no place like the meadow gate. 

104 



THE TWO WAYS. 

Two paths along life's tangled way, lay open to tlie sight, 

Two paths, and you may choose to-day, the left one or 
the right: 

And you may choose without delay, the left one or the right. 

Wide swings the gate upon the left, with mirth and dance 
and song; 

Turn in a Syren sings, turn in, here life is gay and long; 

Turn in if you would pleasure win, and have that pleas- 
ure long. 

The many heard her witching word, for she was in 

disguise. 
And hid from view the end she knew, wan cheek and 

sunken eyes; 

Nor let men see the end to be, gaunt cheek and hol- 
low eyes. 

No levy was demanded, it was come, whoever would; 

The way was smooth and choice the fare, the wine 
was rare and good: 

Smooth was the road, and rich the fare, and old the wine 
and good. 

No witching voice sang on the right, with doubtful word 
and way, 

Rough seemed the road, and hard the fare, up to the 
gate of day: 

Coarse was the fare, and steep and bare, the road that led 
to-day. 

But this his eye could well discern, who purged his 
heart to see. 

The way was smoother farther on, the end was victory: 

That soon the roughness would be gone, the eve was 
victory. 

105 



Some thought the right would conquer, but to-morrow 

was too late; 
Reward to-day their motto say, no patience had to wait; 
They wanted all their good to-day, could not endure 

to wait. 

Some wanted a sure token that the conflict would be won; 
Too much to venture fortune fame and be perchance 

undone; 
To risk their all upon the game, and be at last undone. 

Some saw the truth was noble, but gay Krror seemed 

ahead, 
And whoso cast his lot with Truth, would see the want of 

bread: 
Whoso espoused neglected Truth, would eat but scanty 

bread. 

Some feared for reputation, and could not endure a sneer; 
"Thou art not Caesar's friend," would put a regiment in 

fear: 
Profit and place their only end, to lose their only fear. 

Some wanted more convenient time, till obstacles went by; 
And waited till the chance sublime, had slid away for aye: 
They waited till the golden prime, had gone forever by. 

Still others undecided stood, debating in their mind. 
Which way the ruling masses would, before themselves 

inclined : 
More minded how the neighborhood, than how the Truth 

inclined. 

106 



Yet others thought the case present no very grave import, 

Truth seemed to them indifferent and seldom held her 
court; 

Seldom the truth her judgement sent, and careless was 
her court. 

I marked how few their steps reversed, who entered 
on the left; 

But were with strong delusion nursed, till of their hope 

bereft : 
Their strong delusions were rehearsed, till of all hope 

bereft. 

And none had gift of manliness, in all that mighty 
throng; 

To take the side of bleeding Truth, to shield her from 
the wrong: 

Espouse the cause of right forsooth, in conflict wnth the 
wrong. 

And none in noble courage stood stout-hearted and alone, 

"When howled the mob in angry mood, and flew the 

searching stone: 

But all forsook the Truth and fled, when flew the testing 
stone. 

No Anakim were routed, and no tall Goliaths slain; 

They saw with fear, the wondrous spear, and wore the 

galling chain: 

They saw no hand of help appear to break the heavy 
chain. 

No crosses stood along the way, or stake with fagot pile; 
No muffled urn their honored clay bore up the martyr 
aisle : 

No weeping train their ashes lay, along Fame's lustrous 
aisle. 

107 



Thereon did go their feet who sought their own supreme 

delight; 
But only spirits higher taught, could walk upon the right: 
Save inward truthfulness was naught, admitted on the 

right. 

Men with their eyelids looking on, not buried in the 

past; 
With hearts to wait the rosy dawn, the best wine at the 

last: 
Enough for them the crown be won, so they be crowned 

at last. 

Men standing bravely for the right, though they must 

stand alone, 
And daring on her side to fight, so God be on the throne; 
Beyond the night, they see the light, and God upon the 

throne. 

Men counting small things very great; the small things 

of the heart. 
And great things but a trifling bait, to risk the nobler 

part; 
And gain itself a loss too great, to stain the higher part. 

Men standing like the axioms across the aeons gray. 
And seeing Error like the chaff, swept by the winds 

away; 
And untruth like the drifting raff rolled in the surf away. 

Knowing that Truth will seem to hide, as though she did 

not be; 
Yet in the battle they confide, and see the victory: 
Daring to stem the angry tide, as though her face 

they see. 

108 



Though evil seem to master good, as if the field were 
lost; 

With loss of fame and loss of food, they dare to keep 
their trust: 

Though good may seem to clash with good, yet know- 
ingly they trust. 

For thus the Lord hath spoken in his word of living 

light, 
Who suffers patiently shall win, and sit upon His right; 
Upon which road will you begin, the left one or the 

right? 



LOWER STRINGS. 

My fingers sweep the lower strings, 
I used to thrum the loud and high; 

But pensiveness that autumn brings, 
Steals o'er me as the years go by. 

Though spring will come, and bring the dew, 
And lift the flowers from the snow. 

Yet that is gone, she won't renew. 
My boyhood with its sunny brow. 

where is that that I have lost, 

My dreams that flowerd out so fair? 
My flowers are smitten by the frost, 
And all my garden waste and bare. 

1 sing the little songs in vain, 
And walk the old familiar ways; 

I find them not in sun or rain. 

Those winged thoughts of boyish days. 

109 



In vain I search the hazel nooks, 

Or seek them by the dancing streams, 

They are not by the pebbly brooks, 
I meet them only in my dreams. 

I'll chase no more the butterfly, 
Or gambol with the humming bee, 

Paint fancy pictures on the sky, 
Or barefoot brush the dewy lea. 

And where are those whose slender bark. 
Set out with me to leave the shore? 

But when the storm grew loud and dark. 
They vanished, and were seen no more. 

I call them at the golden dawn. 
And seem to hear them by the rills, 

I sing the songs of long agone, 
But meet them not upon the hills. 

The night-bird brings no tidings up. 
They linger on the silent shore, 

Lonely I tread the downward slope, 
Toward the muffled western door. 

As farther I go down the vale. 
The shadows long and longer be, 

'Twill soon be mine to spread the sail, 
And venture on the mystic sea. 

And more I see the vacant chairs. 

And waning faces as I go. 
And more I stumble on the stairs. 

That lead me to the house below. 

110 



And stranger voices do I hear, 
And in the stranger land I stray, 

My leaf is frosted brown and sere, 
December's in the lap of May. 

These many years I turned my feet, 
To leave my native hills and home. 

The halls w^herein we used to meet, 
The strangers' children go and come. 

I shan't forget the day I went, 
With what regret I shut the door. 

And with what doubts my steps I bent, 
Not knowing I should open more. 

Or when I left the little mounds, 
Or larger, 'neath the yew-tree lone. 

And thought how spring will have her 
rounds. 
And green the sod, and we are gone. 

And as I look through dimmer eyes, 
I hear strange echoes from afar. 

As broken songs from other skies, 
As music from another star. 

Hard by the chilly lake I stand, 
And listen for the boatman's oar. 

Impatient for the golden strand, 
To meet the dear ones ferried o'er. 

O when shall I at home again, 
As infant on its mother's knee, 

Rest from the weariness and pain, 
The tossings of life's restless sea. 

Ill 



ISLE MEMORE."^ 

There's a sombre isle with muffled door, 
In a shadowy sea without a shore, 
That's not disturbed by the breaker's roar: 
O nameless isle Memore. 

We pay it a visit every day. 

So near and so very far away. 

And time not long we shall go to stay; 

As all have done before. 

We plant the willow and cypress there, 
We bow the head in silent prayer, 
For the land is sacred everj^^here; 
O much revered Memore. 

What treasures there have we laid to rest; 
As infants lay on a mother's breast; 
Or woodbirds calm in their downy nest; 
On thy soft lap Memore. 

We gather some locks and tresses rare. 
Of the loved we knew not how to spare. 
And grudged to give to thy watchful care, 
And tender keep, Memore. 

O isle Memore, by the hearthstone blaze. 
We miss the dear ones of other days. 
And list for the old familiar lays. 
The stirring songs of yore. 

O passing strange from thy quiet shore, 
Our loved ones so talkative before, 
Should hold converse with us now no more: 
Never so close before. 
*The universal cemetery. 

112 



O isle Memore, it is not a dream, 
They have gone across the silent stream; 
For we meet them not in shade or gleam; 
In woodland or on shore. 

As still as death, and thy isle is lone; 
The lute's unswept, and the flute's unblown, 
O where are the sweet musicians gone; 
They wake the song no more. 

O saddest of isles thy dew is tears; 
Distilling the long, long night of years. 
The warm farewell drops round the biers, 
O lachrimose Memore. 

Alike thou keepcst an even door; 
Admitting the rich as v/ell as poor, 
With no wider lawns, no greater store; — 
Thou mighty leveler. 

What kings and counsellors have been laid. 
And holy prophets have found a bed. 
And sages hoary have bowed the head, 
Upon thy sod, Memore. 

What conqu'rors great of the olden time; 
The mighty in deed and song sublime, 
Coming from every land and clime; 
Have sheathed their swords from war. 

There thieves do not break, or burglars peep, 
Thy money-changers are all asleep. 
And careless their doubtful coins to keep; 
Their safes are now secure. 

113 



O'erlade with baubles, our caravans, 
Go winding along thy sea-girt strands; 
Till our camels kneel upon thy sands; 
Little we wiser grow. 

We carnival hold and heave the song; 
"We have much estate, and life is long: 
Merry we'll be in the merry throng; " 
And the world seems to win. 

Then a voice is heard above the din, 
" To-morrow shall you be with your kin; 
You are but the night guests of the inn; 
Keep you your sandals on." 

We shall one day meet the boatman bold; 
We shall ferry the dark waters cold; 
As still as the silent Sphynx of old : 
And generations gone. 

O rock-cut citadel of the dead, 
Majestic halls of the noiseless tread; 
As though thy prisoners all had fled; 
How long, how long, how long! 

Dark isle of fear, there is rescue near; 
A stronger hand hath touched the bier; 
And the sleeper woke to life and cheer, 
And light flashed through the gloom. 

He grasping thy pillars in his might; 
Bowed like the strong Old Nazarite; 
Thy Dagon fell like a star at night: 
Thy conqueror hath come. 

114 



What armies shall from thy isle be led, 
When thy rocky clefts give up their dead; 
And thy iron bars shall yield like thread: 
O vanquished isle, Memore. 

Rise golden morning and bring the day; 
The seed of Adam redeemed from clay. 
Shall wing to the star-lit skies away. 
In triumph evermore. 



THE OLD MAN, 

Smile on the old man, there he comes, low leaning on 

his cane ; 
He's in the twilight of his day, he may not come again; 

For God hath the injunction laid, "Honor the hoary 

head," 
Would you be numbered with the sheep of the Good 

Shepherd led : 

111 fares he in his chilly years, life's taper burneth low ; 

A few sweet words will help assuage, sorrows you may 
not know; 

The grinders cease, the strong men yield, the window- 
lights are dim. 

Once he was athlete in the field, and few could cope 
with him. 

Well in life's earnest fray he fought, though wounded 

oft and sore ; 
Oft disappointed and maligned, yet he in patience bore ; 
Be kind ; the floods have hurried by, and drifted him 

aside; 
And he is lone upon the beach, and waiting for the tide. 

115 



He loves his seat beside the hearth, to see the embers 

glow; 
And fancies in the shadows there, the forms of long ago; 
Or bends he to the churchyard now, in meditations deep, 
Where all his generation gone lie in their silent sleep. 

Only fond recollection lives; he's buried in the past; 
Back in the halcyon days and years, ere skies were 

overcast; 
Now comes a smile, or now a tear, its sunshine or its rain; 
Kindly extend your little cheer, to bring the sun again. 

Bach little twig that lay along, he dashes with his stick. 
Alive to early sight and song, and early voices speak; 
Only one foot is toppling here, the other's on the verge ; 
He'll soon be on his second feet, and voyage on the surge. 

Smile not at his sequestered coat, collar and buttons 

great. 
For once it was a style of note, and made his heart elate; 

He's with you but a narrow day, speak softly till the 

night ; 
'Twill help you wing your flight away, to brighter hills 

of light. 



THE SEVEN TIMES. 

Judah, the seven times decreed, have well nigh passed 

away, 
That God had sworn to cast thee off for thine iniquity: 
That he would turn his face away and give thee to 

be slain; 
Your fields unto the enemy, and they that hate should 

reign. 

116 



Your sons and daughters ye shall eat, your cities shall be 

waste, 
Your sanctuaries be destroyed your desolation haste; 
Devouring beasts shall rob you of your children and 

your kine, 
Your highways shall be desolate, your anxious hearts 

shall pine. 

And if for this saith he, ye will not hearken unto me, 
Yet seven times I'll punish you, and let my fury see; 
And ye shall flee before the sword, and have no might to 

stand; 
Among the heathen shall be cast, and perish in their 

land. 

The trees shall neither yield their fruits, nor fields give 

their increase; 
Pride of your power will I break, your heavens be as 

brass; 
I will avenge my covenant and bring on you a sword, 
Will send on you the pestilence, and ye shall be abhorred. 

If then your hearts be humbled and iniquity confess, 
That I have justly punished and have brought you in 

distress; 
That ye dispised my judgements and my statutes did 

abhor, 
Then I'll my covenant renew, my favor as of yore. 

I will not utterly destroy nor -cast you quite away, 

But be your God as I of old unto your fathers say: 

* ' For it shall come to pass that day the Lord shall set his 

hand, 
The second time to gather out his remnant from the land, 

117 



Assyria, from Egypt, and from islands of the sea, 
From the four- winds shall the dispersed, of Jacob 

gathered be; 
Again shall Israel come dryshod as she from Egypt came. 
Again a highway shall be there, and she return the same. ' ' 

Thy seven times O gentile kings, are drawing to a close, 
Since thy first representative against God's kingdom 

rose; ■ 
And carried Judah from her land, and scattered her afar, 
And took the crown from David's hand, and Jacob's 

guiding star. 

But vain is all the heathen rage and earthly king's array, 
For yet my king shall sit on Zion's holy hill that da}^; 
Jerusalem is given up that she be trodden down. 
Until the Gentile times are full, and Christ shall wear 
the crown. 

For I have sworn to David and in that I will not lie, 
His seed will I establish as the heavens in the sky ; 
If they forsake my statutes, I will visit with the rod, 
But fix his throne forever, as the everlasting God, 



JOHN ANDERSON MY JO; OR FREE 
SIL VER."^' 

John Anderson my jo, John, 

When we were first acquaint. 
Free silver was the go, John, 

With plenty and content: 
But now the times have changed, John, 

Oui daddies didn't know. 
And so the)^ tricked us on the gold, 

John Anderson, my jo. 

118 



John Anderson my jo, Jolin, 

Sound money is the cry ; 
A dollar that will grow John, 

And fatten laying by; 
So honest stealing is the game; 

One dollar bearing twain; 
And all are knaves, who would proclaim, 

Free silver in again. 

John Anderson, my jo, John, 

I read it is a curse ; 
To move the landmarks so, John, 

And not to reimburse: 
To rob the poor and legalize; 

With rogues confederate, 
And not the less must we despise, 

Because it is of state. 

John Anderson, my jo, John, 

I've set my head to think. 
Our daddies knew a thing or two, 

And always had " the chink; " 
So with a face of iiiut John, 

And hand in hand we'll go. 
To bring the ' * dollar of our dads, ' ' 

John Anderson, my jo. 



♦Written for the first campaign of W. J. Bryan. 
119 



GAME OF LIFE, 

lyife is all a losing game, 

Day by day: 
Bmpty go we as we came, 

To the play; 
For in spite of all our care, 
We are taken here and there; 
On the right and left a snare, 

All the way. 

Greater loads to carry we, 

Day by day: 
Harder blows to parry we, 

On the way; 
Morn makes plaint unto the eve, 
lyittle can the night relieve; 
More and more to make us grieve. 

All the way. 

More the anxious cares abound, 

Day by day; 
More the vacant chairs around. 

On the way: 
Path more lonely farther on ; 
More familiar faces gone; 
Meet no more at dusk or dawn, 

All the way. 
120 



More we're strangers on the shore, 

Day by day; 
Strangers meet us at the door; 

On the way : 
Soon but few are left to know, 
Of the loves of long ago; 
Melted like the winter's snow. 

From the way. 

Gray old time pursues us here, 

Day by day: 
Life demands the scalding tear, 

On the way; 
Years we live, alas how vain; 
Weakened, darkened, filled with pain; 
Life-song has a sad refrain. 

All the way. 

Treasures borne across the tide. 

Day by day; 
Summers all the swifter glide. 

On their way; 
Voices from the spirit land, 
Beckon, reaching out the hand. 
Till we seem to understand. 

What they say. 

^' Why should you be loath to come," 

Hear them say; 
^* To the dear ones, over home. 
Home for aye: 
Summers will not come again. 
Now is chill November's reign; 
And you've sown your golden grain; 
Would you stay ? ' ' 

131 



CORAL BUILDERS. 

Ye wondrous masons of tlie ocean caves, 
Who rear your pillars where no billow waves, 
And lay your columns neath the reign of frost, 
To stand when man's have crumbled into dust, 
I marvel ye are wise to seek a home, 
Where wars cannot assail or tempest come, 
Our flowers here are cursed with the thorn, 
Thornless the flowers thry crystal halls adorn. 

What glassy pearls shine in thy jasper grove. 
What golden fins athrough thy arbors rove. 
Thy fluted columns and Alhambras grand, 
Pass all that human glory can command, 
Compared to thee, instinct thy only guide, 
O what is man with all his boast and pride, 
His loftiest columns, pyramids and domes. 
To frosted glory of thy catecombs. 

A pygmy race and brief your little day, 
Yet high your towers and are there to stay. 
In those far depths where shineth not the sunj 
Ye lift aloft a sunken Babylon; 
Erect a tomb then lay ye down and die. 
Forgot as builders of Old Egypt lie. 
Yet stand your works across the ages gray. 
And Egypt's sinking in the sands away. 

122 



Alone thy cities as old Petra lone; 
A thousand ages since, have crept and gone: 
And yet thy halls in Alabaster shine, 
Like twisted work of wreathed eglantine; 
Thy peaceful realm, hath never known a jar; 
No workman strike, and no employees war, 
And yet a thousand thrones are lifted high, 
In sculptured beauties, that all time defy. 

Toiling in patience, though ye may not know, 
The work amazing little hands can do, 
Nor climb like Moses, to look o'er and see, 
The coming glory that is yet to be, 
For o'er your halls and high above your grave; 
The rich dark gardens of the palm shall wave; 
And storm-tossed seamen weary of the main. 
Shall find a harbor safe, and hope again. 



123 



ECHOES OF SCOTTISH 
SONG. 



MAGGIE ROBERTSON. 

Oh sweetest Maggie Robertson, 

I think o' auld lang syne; 
The day your father in the glen, 

Was cotter next to mine. 

The morning woke me none too soon; 

Too short appeared the day, 
That brought me by those banks o' Doon, 

The bHthe blinks o' thine eye. 

O dearest Maggie Robertson, 

This heart will never know. 
The day it shall forget the one. 

It loved in long ago. 

How aft at morn we drove the kye, 

Out to the clover lea; 
And aft at eve I sauntered by. 

To bring them hame wi' thee. 

And then I thought poor was the king, 

Wi' all his crov/n and fame, 
Who could not help his love to bring, 

At eve the cattle hame. 

Thegither would we link to school, 

Thegither would return; 
You were the book from Yule to Yule, 

I had most mind to learn. 

124 



Oft would we meet to speel the braes; 

The birdies sang wi' glee, 
But sweetest bird wi' sweetest lays, 

The bird that sang wi' me. 

I stand beside the same old beech, 

Where we sae often met; 
And pearl-drops on the cheek o' each, 

The ithers cheek would wet. 

dear, dear Maggie Robertson, 
The moonlight never gleams, 

Except my roving thoughts return. 
To meet thee i' my dreams. 

And brightest star in night afar, 
Still brims my e'e wi' tears, 

1 seem to see that brighter star, 
That vanished in the 5^ears. 



LIZZIE LINN. 

lyizzie, I pass your mansion fine, 
The grounds are a' sae bonnie, 

I wonder if ye ca' to min', 
The days ye spent wi' Jonnie. 

The days we spent i' yonder glen, 
A' by the brook sae canny, 

An' ye were then my Lizzie I/inn, 
An' I, your laddie, Jonnie. 

How aft we sat beside the stream, 
Aneath the fragrant bowers; 

An' i' our hinny May-day dream, 
I crowned your head wi' flowers. 

125 



How aften did we tent the flocks, 
An' wander through the heather; 

An' aften did we speel the rocks, 
Twa loving hearts thegither. 

An' ye were mair than a' the gear, 
To goud we were nae minded, 

'Twas love made ilk to ither dear, 
Afore the gear had blinded. 

Now ye ha'e buckled to a duke, 
An' left your Highland laddie; 

An' quite forgot the little brook, 
An' cottage o' your daddie. 

Alas that goud your e'en should blin' 
To sell true love for monie, 

Yet are ye still my Lizzie Linn, 
I, your forsaken, Jonnie. 



SWEET MARY. 

O saft fa's the dew on the vines an' the bowers, 
That shelter the cot where sweet Mary resides; 

More fragrant the blossoms, an' balmy the showers, 
An' greener the banks where the bright streamlet glides. 

How lightly she trips along the green meadow; 

How sweet is her song with the chimes o' the stream; 
Her eye like a star, will impart light or shadow, 

As smile or as frown is let out i' its beam. 

Her han' is the lily, the lily for whiteness. 
An' saft as the velvet, when laid wi'in mine; 

Her radiant face is like day i' its brightness; 
Her hair is the clusters that hang on the vine. 

138 



Her heart is like snow newly down frae the ether; 

Her neck is the swan-down sae saft an' sae white, 
Her bosom the twin blooming bells o' the heather, 

Her voice is the sweetness o' music at night. 

O aften at e'en as the moon rises over, 
An' loud is the song o' the bright silver rill. 

Instinctive my steps wind across the sweet clover, 
To Mary's fair cottage, just under the hill. 

Whawad na make love to sae winsome a fairy; 

A hi' day she brings to the howes an' the knowes; 
Alas for the lads, that there is but one Mary, 

A score o' the laddies v/ad like to propose. 



HIGHLAND MARY. 

Would that I were the silver brook, 
That rins by Highland Mary's home ; 

And winding, lingers i' the nook, 
Where my sweet Mary loves to come. 

Or fain I'd be a bird to sing 

Down i' those shady birchen braes, 

How through the trees my song wad ring, 
A pgean to my Mary's praise. 

Or I wad be a flower gay, 

O' rich perfume, an' beauty rare. 

To tempt my Mary on her way, 
To set me i' her flowing hair. 

For she so long in lilies laid 

An' twined the roses round her head. 
Till fairer than the lilies made, 

Wi' cheeks more than the roses red. 

127 



I would I were the silken braid, 

To bind the ringlets round her brow; 

And when the sportin' Zephyrs played, 
To kiss her on her hinny mou' . 

Or could I pluck the brightest gem, 
That twinkles i' night's starry chain, 

I'd set it i' her diadem, 

Her right o' eminent domain. 

Come, then, sweet Mary, be my queen; 

An' reign wi'in my heart for aye. 
No winters then should inter\-ene; 

But life be one unending May. 



RETURN, MY LADDIE. 

My laddie, my dear one, is far in the west, 

And now when the sun hath gone down to his rest, 

And his beams redden over the sea. 
How wistful I look i' the line o' the rays. 
That gild the bright pathway between us that plays,. 

And long for the light o' his e'e. 

Had I but an arrow to fly wi' the w4nd. 

Or leave the bright flash o' the lightnin' behind. 

How quickly a message I'd send, 
I'd say like the billow, this heart hath nae rest, 
Bereft o' the presence o' him I lo'e best. 

Come back an' my weariness end. 

Return, O my laddie, aince mair to thy love, 
'Twill mak' this sad earth as the Aiden above, 

My heart wi' sweet music shall ring; 
An' gowden light ever will dance o'er the sea, 
An' heaven be nearer than ever to me. 

The wilderness blossom as spring. 

128 



THAT SAD FAREWEEL. 

That sad fareweel at the door, Jennie, 

That painful, heartrending good-bye; 
I think of it more and more, Jennie, 

As the sorrowful years go by; 
O, why did I go awa', Jennie, 

To seek after fortune or fame, 
An' see not my fortune i' thee, Jennie, 

O sadly this heart was to blame. 

Chorus — 

Bonnie Jennie, sweetest Jennie, O my Jennie Gray, 
How this heart will ever rue, the day I went away. 

The little cot hard by the wayside, 

Though it were built on'y for twa, 
Were ample wide, were Jennie my bride, 

If she were but wi' me to-day; 
O, Jennie, I could na but love thee, 

It came when I did na half try; 
Like flash from the heaven above me, 

Went through me the light o' thine eye. 

For thou wast sae bonnie an' winsome. 

An' thou wast sae graceful and neat; 
I'll ne'er find anither sae handsome, 

I'll ne'er meet anither sae sweet; 
Thy voice was the lute saft an' tender,. 

As swept by the zephyrs at eve, 
A heart made of oak would surrender, 

Well may thy loss cause me to grieve > 

129 



The stone where the harp o' Phoebus lay 

Is replete wi' the music still; 
So the harpstrings o' my heart to-day, 

Wi' the sweetness thysel' did fill; 
And as from the wrecks o' sunken years, 

We sometimes are lifting a gem; 
So from the brine o' my salt, salt tears, 

Comes the light o' thy jeweled name. 



BRINGLN' HAME THE KYE. 

O, Annie, dear, the sun is low, 
Can I gae wi' ye, o'er the knowe, 

A bringin' hame the kye? 
We'll sit an' hear the mavis sing, 
Wi' music a' the woods will ring, 

Till eve shall shut her e'e. 

We'll pick ripe berries on the hill. 
We'll gather cowslips by the rill, 

An' buttercups sae rare; 
Pluck blossoms o' the milk-white thorn, 
An' wi' the heather bloom adorn. 

Thy brown an' silken hair. 

O, Annie, ye are mair to me, 
Than a' the gifts that goud can gie, 

Or shinin' siller buy. 
An' fortune rise, or fortune fa', 
An* hour wi' thee is more than a', 

A bringin* hame the kye. 

130 



Then, Annie, come an' hie wi' me 
Across the dewy, daisy lea, 

My vows o' love I'll pay, 
An' i' the bonnie birchen bower. 
We'll talk about the happy hour, 

We'll be nae longer twa. 



SUSIE GOIN' AWA\ 

O, Susie was down i' the glen a' the simmer ! 

Sae gentie, sae faithfu' and neebors were kind. 
But now cam' the brisk, chilly winds o' Novim'er, 

An' she must be aff an' leave dear anes behind. 

Nae hame had the lassie, nae father or mither, 
But on'y such hame as the neebors may gie; 

But pure was her heart as the bell on the heather. 
An' fair was her face as the bloom on the pea. 

Her voice was like music, wi' low tone o' sadness, 

For sair was the lassie at goin' awa'; 
An' even the birdies were low i' their gladness, 

An' leaves seemed to wail a regret i' their fa'. 

But sadder the laddies that Susie was leavin', 
An' saddest was Charlie frae over the lea. 

To say her fareweel, his puir heart was sae grievin* 
That fast fell the saft blindin' tear frae his e'e. 

For Charlie lo'ed Susie as niver anither. 
An' ilk lo'ed the ither, baith fervent an* weel, 

She gaed him ane kiss, an' their tears ran thegither, 
Their parting was sad as a lover can feel. 

131 



He vowed e'er the simmer gied bloom to the 

flowers, 
If Susie consented to bear his ain name, 
That soon as the spring brought the leaf to the 

bowers, 
He'd gie to the dear one his han' an' his harae. 



RONALD LEE. 

My thoughts are a' about the sea, 
The storm upon her breast; 

And a' because my Ronald Lee 
Is on her foaming crest. 

Ye winds that toss the billows rude, 

Be genty for my sake; 
My Ronald was sae true an' good, 

His loss my heart would break. 

Ye know how loth I let him go, 

But we were aye sae poor; 
I dread to hear ye roarin' so, 

And roll the waves ashore. 

On'y this ance propitious be, 

If he come back again, 
For a' that gear can bring to me, 

He shall not risk the main. 

And I will aye my vows renew. 

And ever keep in mind 
His name that to my prayer was true; 

The God that held the wind. 

132 



LUCIE'S COMIN\ 

An' is it true, the words ye say, 
That '* Lucie is a-comin'?" 

Then Charlie nae more work to-day; 
But keep the viol hummin'. 

Let there be music i' the air, 

Her step has music i' it, 
I'll go to meet my on'y fair; 

I'm cantie as a linnet. 

I ha'e worn sackcloth long anon', 
I'll dress me braw an' gaily; 

"She's comin' back," O, is it true, 
My ain dear Lucy Staley? 

I'll tell it a' around the glen; 

For I canna conceal it; 
For should I seek to hide it, then 

My gladness wad reveal it. 

Nae song had I, my Lucy gane, 
I was a bird sair wounded; 

I wandered stream an' wood alane 
Dizzy wi' grief confounded. 

An' shall I see her shinin' face, 
Those starlit een set i' it; 

My genty Nymph, sae fu' o' grace ? 
I'm merry as a linnet, 

I canna tell the half I wad. 
For words canna express it; 

O, Lucie's comin', I am glad. 
An' freely I confess it. 
133 



The winds ha'e tempered sin' I heard, 
The cauld blasts ha'e blawn over, 

I'm like auld Crumplie i' the yard, 
Up to her een i' clover. 



AWAY TO THE WARS. 

O, is it not sad, when a lass has a lad, 
An' gies him her heart an' her a', 

He be to the dread an' the cruel wars led, 
Not knowin' what fate shall befa'. 

When Robbie was by, O how happy was I, 
I skipped like the lammies at play. 

Or simmer, or winter, I cared nae a fly; 
December was canny as May. 

But now he is gane, I must wander alane, 
The brooks an' the glens i' my grief. 

An' not even ken I shall see him again 
Or blink o' his e'e i' relief. 

Nae longer the birdies sing sweet i' the wood, 

The lark or the linnet is gay, 
And even old Carlo is in a bad mood, 

He knows that my Robbie's awa'. 

How slow are the hours, till my Robbie[retum, 

The old clock is out o' its head. 
And niver war puir shepherd lass sae forlorn; 

The roses forget to look red. 

The meadow has nae smiling daisies to show, 
The brook is forgetting her song; 

It's a' that my laddie is absent I know, 
'Twas not so when he was along. 

134 



O, gie me the Ian' whar the tnimpet's unblown, 

Nae noise o' the fife or the drum, 
The Ian' whar nae lassie need part frae her own, 
The Ian' whar the wars dinna come. 



MY LASSIE. 



I sing o' my lassie, my bonnie sweet lass. 

But words are too poor to express, 
The half o' the charm o' her fairy-like form. 

An' lips I alone may caress. 

Her e'e is the light o' the stars o' the night, 

Her face is the radiant bow, 

That shines through the tears, an' the drops o' the 
years. 

The promise o' Heaven below. 

Her brow is the snaw, an' her cheek is the rose. 
Her neck is the lily sae white, 

a' things that be, are as naething to me, 
Beside o' my fair little sprite. 

1 muse whin the moon is sae bright i' the glen, 
My thoughts thrill my heart thro' an' thro', 

'Tis o' her I dream, as I lay by the stream, 
My lassie sae bonnie an' true. 

I've nae ither aim, either fortune or fame, 

I envy nae lord wi' his Ian', 
I'm richer by far, wi' my lass an' her dower, 

The gift o' her saft, genty han'. 

Nae skill do I bring, o' my dearie to sing, 

Her endearments inspire my lays; 
I dare nae say less, an' the truth to express. 

She's the bonniest bird o' the braes. 

135 



SWEET NANCY. 

Whither, sweet Nancy, hast thou gane, 

Wi' a' thy sail unfurled, 
Hast thou set out like Philip's son, 

I' conquest o' the world ? 

The laddies say thy starry e'e 

Was fatal i' the glen, 
As that green jawbone o' Lehi 

That slew a thousand men. 

And wilt thou push thy conquests far, 

An' go abroad for more, 
Till thou be known the leading star, 

O' Caledonia's shore? 

What though thou dost the flowers outshine, 

Yet Nature gied it a' ; 
And think how soon the flowers pine, 

And beauty has a fa'. 

Remember that proud aeronaut, 
That winged his flight sae high, 

Until was i' the sunbeams caught, 
Sent headlong frae the sky. 

Return, sweet Nancy, turn again, 

Fly to thy lover's arms. 
Soon will the frosty autumn reign. 

An' wither a' thy charms. 

136 



NANNIE. 

O, Nannie, sweet Nannie, my lassie sae canny. 
The luve o' my heart, shall I evermore see ? 

Evermore see thee, and auld Coila sae bonnie, 
The wide rollin' waves atween Nannie an' me. 

O, weel may the winds lash the sea into whiteness, 
My heart is a sea that hath niver a rest; 

For she that was wont to give day half its brightness, 
Here lifts not a smile on her lover distressed. 

They say there's a pathway across the wide billows, 
I hear there are messages cleaving the air; 

Yet sad is my heart, neath the dew dripping willows, 
For lang are the leagues atween me an' my fair. 

The woodbine may twine o'er the lattice sae bonnie. 
And sweet are the blossoms i' breath o' the breeze; 

The birdies are singin', but absent is Nannie, 
Where Ayr is a-windin' amid the green trees. 

O, aft do I think o' the path through the heather; 

The banks an' the braes an' the bright silver linn; 
Where loving we strayed i' the moonlight thegither; 

The times, the glad times, will ye e'er be again? 

'Twas fell fortune drave me sae far frae my Nannie; 

I'll ne'er be content on this mirk desert shore; 
I ask but a wee bit o' housie sae cannie, 

An' Nannie to grace it, an' ask for nae more. 

So back I'll betake me to Coila an' Nannie; 

An' live i' delight, wi' my lassie sae dear; 
An' envy not ony their kye, Ian' or monie, 

Auld Coila an' Nannie, is mair than their gear. 

137 



LOGIE. 

I know, my lad, itgies ye pain, my mither looks sae sour, 
So, IvOgie, whin ye come again, I'll meet ye at the bower; 
Slip a wee note aneath the stane, down by the birchen 

tree. 
An' whin they a' to sleep are gane, I will cam down to 

thee. 

Chorus — 

I will cam down to thee, Logie, I will cam down to thee, 
An' whin they a' to sleep are gane, I will cam down to 
thee. 

They'd ha'e me tie to Harry Gray, for he has house an* 

kye; 
Ousen an' Ian' an' gear an' wood an' siller for to buy; 
But, Logic, you're my dearest lad, an' I will aye be true^ 
An' a' his houses an' his Ian' sha' n't tempt my heart to rue. 

For Harry's heart is on his Ian' more than upon his lass, 
By ony chance his gear be gane, he'd turn me out to grass; 
My mither wad ha'e ousen an' broad fiel's o' wheat an' ly^e. 
But I a lad that lo'es his lass, more than he lo'es his kye. 

Estate in fee is i' your e'e, that 's mair to me I ken, 
Than a' o' Harry's ousen, wi' his houses an' his Ian'. 
His gear may buy me fiel's an' rigs, o' ha}^ an' barley high; 
But the sweet gift o' leesome luve, his siller may not buy. 

So, Logie, whin ye meet me at the kirk, or at the fair, 
Just gang me by, as if ye niver had a mind to care; 
An' I will meet ye at the style, or at the little shed, 
Until the wheel o' fortune turns, the day we are to Aved. 

138 



JAMIE, 

O Jamie is the dearest lad, 

That whistles i' the glen, 
And never 'neath a shepherd's plaid, 

A truer heart hath been. 

His mornin' song rings o'er the mead, 

And gladdens a' the vale, 
When e'enin comes, his charming reed, 

Wad woo the nightingale. 

His curled locks, on his fair brow lay, 
I/ike dark clouds on the moon; 

Sae clear is his bright rollin' e'e, 
As when a diamond shone. 

Nae gold hae he, and little gear, 

Nae ousen an' nae kye, 
But let me hae my Jamie near. 

My on'y roof the sky. 

The lasses a' wad mischief brew, 

To steal my lad awa; 
But weel I knov7 my Jamie's true, 

As true as he is braw. 

Be high or low, cam weal or woe, 

I am my Jamie's own. 
And ere the winter brings the snaw, 

He will be mine alone. 

The day the leaf is turnin' red. 

Upon the maple bough 
It is appointed, v/e shall wed, 

I'm ready for the vow. 

139 



LASS O' THE STREAM. 

A lass lives down by yonder stream, 
Her face is like the mornin' beam; 
The light o' kindness i' its gleam; 
A cannie lass is she. 

Her e'e wad match a star at night; 
As light o' step as mountain sprite; 
Her form sae witching to the sight, 
An' heart sae blithe an' free. 

As modest too as she is sweet; 
And as the primrose she is neat; 
Nae Nymph for beauty can compete, 
The lily o' the lea. 

She is nae rich i' Ian' an' gear, 
In shinin' coin or title clear, 
But i' the test o' look an' lear. 
The laddies a' agree. 

Anither lass lives o'er the moor. 
Who piques hersel* upon her store; 
An' hands her head above the poor, 
An' passes proud an' high. 

The lad to her is aye but mean, 
Whose purse o' yellow coin is clean; 
Whate'er o' learning he hath seen; 
Nae better than a fly. 

She fain wad think she is the lass; 
An' a' the lads must stoop to pass; 
She has the ousen an' the grass. 
The siller an' the kye. 
140 



Fye, fye, my lass, I'd rather tak' 
The blithe sweet lassie o' the brook, 
Than you wi' a' your gear an' nook, 
lyiftin' your head sae skeigh. 



SCOTCH EXILE'S SONG. 

O Scotia my dearest home, far o'er the rollin' deep, 

It's aneath thy bells o' heather bloom, my forefathers 

sleep; 
Had I the gift ane song to sing, ere a' my skill be past, 
To her dear name that song I'd sing, my sweetest and 

my last, 
To Scotia's name the chords should ring, my sweetest 

song and last. 

There man's a man, a high-born prince, however sma^ 

his gear; 
And woman by his side a queen, his even-honored peer; 
Her love inspires the poet's songs, a guiding spirit she, 
A light amid those happy homes, and hearthstones o' the 

free, 
Thrice blessed Scotland's pleasant homes, the dwellings 

o' the free. 

Nae ither Ian' sae richly blest, wi' peace an' sweet content, 
In robe o' simple manners drest, on truth an' honor bent; 
For luxury an' pride, the foe, may not her hearths invade, 
Her star shall to the zenith go, when prouder lights 

shall fade; 
Thy glory Scotland brighter grow, till time's last aeon 

fade. 

141 



Let ithers boast o' skies more blue, or streams more wide 
an' deep; 

Gi'e me the hills where Ossian grew, an' Bruce an' Wal- 
lace sleep; 

The glens where Lora's thistle bends, an' Morven's oaks 
grow old, 

The plains where Tweed's deep water wends, fra' Chev- 
iot's hills o' gold 

Where Clyde her rocky channel bends, through fields o* 
summer gold. 

When shall I see the fountains spring, sae gleesome frae 

the hills; 
When shall I hear the linties sing, alang my native rills; 
When shall I round the ingle meet, the friends o' early 

days, 
An' listen to the songs sae sweet, the old familiar lays; 
An' hear old Scotland's songs sae sweet, an' patriotic lays. 

if across the darkest night, the dawn is sure to come. 
Then break o break the mornin' bright, that calls the 

exile home; 

1 still can see the gleam we left, along the dancin' main, 
When shall the shinin' deep be cleft, as I fly back again; 
For naught can ease this heart bereft, but to hie back 

again. 

WILLIE RAY. 

O Willie Ray, sweet Willie Ray, 
My precious love, O, life's young day, 
111 fortune drove thee far away, 
And left thy love repining. 

143 



We twa consented to be ane, 
When Martinmas should come again, 
But thou art far upon the main, 
Where ither stars are shinin'. 

Oft to the rocky cliffs I gae, 
And call aloud across the sea, 
Willie my love, O come to me; 
Till e'enin' sun's declinin'. 

Nae answer's wafted on the gale. 
An' sad I turn aside to wail; 
But yonder, yonder is a sail; 

Who knows, it might be Willie ? 

I'll hie me down unto the pier, 
And wait until the stars appear, 
See, it is drawing nearer, near. 
My heart is beating illy. 

Wha is that first to leap ashore ? 
His keen eye scans the harbor o'er, 
I ken I've seen the face before, 
O, it's my ain dear Willie. 



KA T VOIDS I ' THE TREES. 

It was a simmer night, the moon was shinin' bright, 
And hushed was the hummin' o' the bees. 

Everything was still, save the noisy little rUl, 
An' katydids a-singin' i' the trees, 
The katydids were cantie i' the trees. 

143 



I went to see my love, was comin' through the grove, 
The flocks were a' reposin' at their ease, 

I'll ne'er forget the night, those hours o' delight; 
And katydids a-chirring i' the trees; 
The katydids made music i' the trees. 

We parted wi' a kiss, an' parted so remiss, 
She must be aff at early mornin' breeze, 

When we wad meet again, could neither one explain, 
And katydids were singin' i' the trees, 
The katydids were wooing i' the trees. 

O sad I rued the day my lassie went awa' . 
Nae mair the birds sang sweetly i' the braes; 

But a' the warl was drear, she came back nevarmair, 
When katydids came chirring i' the trees. 
Though katydids came wooing i' the trees. 

Alas for Cupids bow, alas for love below, 
Her e'en sae winning, now anither please. 

Yet is she ever near, whenever I do hear, 
The katydids a-singin' i' the trees; 
The katydids love-making i' the trees. 



144 



GLOSSARY, 



A'— All 
An'— And 
Ane — One 
Ance — Once 
Auld— Old 
Awa — Away 

B 
Blin'— Blind 
Bonnie — Goodly 
Brae — Declivity 
Braw — Handsome 

C 

Cannie — Cheerful 
Ca'— Call 

D 
Dinna — Do not 

E 
E'e— Eye 

Een — Eyes 

E ' en — Evening 

F 
Frae — From 
Fu— Full 

G 
Gae— Go 
Gear — Riches 
Gie — Give 
Goud— Gold 

H 
Howes — Hollows 
Ha'e — Have 
Hinny — Honey 
Hand— Hold 

I 
I'— In 



Ither— Other 
Ilka — Each 

Ken — Know 

Knowes — Higher lands 

Kye— Cows 

L 

Lan' — Land 
Linn — Cascade 
Lo'e — Love, or 
Luve — Love 

M 

Mann — Must 
Mair — More 
Mou' — Mouth 
Monie — Money 
Mirk — Dark 

N 
Nae — No 
Nane — None 
Neebors — Neighbors 

O 

O'— Of 
Ony — Any 
Owsen — Sheep 

S 
Sae— So 
Sic— Such 
Speel— To Climb 

W 
Wi'— With 
Wad— Would 

Y 

Yule — Christmas 

145 



SCRIPTURE SUBJECTS. 



RUTH, 

Entreat me not to turn again, 

Back to the stricken land; 
With thee this heart would aye remain, 

While runs life's troubled sand. 

Whither thou goest, I will go; 

And I will lodge with thee; 
Thy people as my people know, 

Thy God my God shall be. 

And where thou diest, will I die, 

And by thy side will rest; 
Death only may dissolve the tie. 

That binds me to thy breast. 

Yet yet how loved I Moab's hills; 

And thought to live and die, 
In hearing of her singing rills, 

My dear ones sleeping nigh. 

Amid her happy birds and bov/ers. 
And glist'ning meadow streams; 

In my dear native land of flowers, 
And young romantic dreams. 

But since the cold pale rider came. 

And Mahlon went away, 
Rest here hath been an idle name. 

And here I may not stay. 

Say not then to my heart return. 
To whom then should I go ? - 

IvCt Orpah for past pleasures yearn, 
I would Messiah know. 

146 



And through eyes brimming with my tears, 

Upon this high divide; 
I/)ok down the vista of the years, 

And once for all decide. 

Farewell to Moab's jeweled hills, 

Sweet land of corn and wine, 
Her fleecy flocks and dancing rills, 

Henceforth thy God is mine. 



THE DELUGE. 

God said to Noah come, with thy house in the ark. 
Yet seven days herefrom, it shall rain on the earth; 

And forty days and nights, the heavens shall be dark. 
And it shall flood the heights, and drown all that have 
birth. 

So Noah did contrive all things as God had said, 

And came his sons, his wife, and his son's wives with 
him; 
And two and two of beast, or fowl that fly or tread, 
And when the days were passed, the dreadful waters 
came. 

Above, below, around, one mighty rush and roar, 
The darkness so profound, shuts out the light of day; 

From land and sea and sky, comes one incessant pour, 
As if all things would vie, God's anger to display. 

The waters in their roar, seem warring on the land; 

To open every door, and dam that could restrain; 
And strive the rocks on high, to level with the sand, 

Ahd bring their heads to lie, submissive to the main. 

147 



Sudden and warning not, no writing on the wall, 
As when volcano hot, slumbers in silence long; 

At once the crater groans, all seething, steaming full, 
And sends its brimming cones, in fearful ruin strong. 

Small brooks to rivers rise, and swell to lakes and seas, 
Old ocean in surprise, heaves neath the heavy load; 

Strong under arms uplift, more to disturb her ease, 
And roll the billows swift, in one wild dashing flood. 

Scarce can the lurid sun, endure the awful sight; 

Man frantic and undone, sinks in the conquering waves; 
The sigh and parting groan, the hunger and the fright; 

The millions going down to their wet, slimy graves. 

There infant lips made wail to mothers all in vain ; 

And daughters fair and frail, in anguish tore their hair; 
And babes that lately came, yielded their life in pain, 

The young, the old, the lame, all but the gay were there. 

Like feather on the wave, their houses on the flood; 

Their gods that could not save, all sunken in the mire; 
And huge sea-monsters feed, where once their temples 
stood. 

So terrible indeed, is Great Jehovah's ire. 

How are the bleating flocks borne on the tide away; 

As loud as hunger knocks, no wolf molests the sheep; 
No leopard tears the calf, or tiger takes the prey; 

So awful is the fear and peril of the deep. 

The birds that cleave the air, and beasts amphibious lay; 

The lion of the lair, the python of the wood. 
All lifeless as the drift, and harmless as the clay, 

The flotsam of the dreadful world-submerging flood. 

148 



But see yon vessel float, upon the lonely waste; 

All in that destined boat, shall safely come to land; 
Of all her chosen crew, not one of death shall taste; 

Seed of the earth anew, held in Jehovah's hand. 



ist PSALM. 

Blessed is the man that walketh not 

Where the ungodly meet, 
Nor standeth in the sinner's lot, 

Nor sits in scorners seat. 

But his delight is in the Lord; 

His perfect law and light, 
Him, sweetest thoughts by day afford, 

And sweetest songs by night. 
He shall be like a spreading tree. 

Bringing his fruit in time. 
Planted where living waters be. 

Lifting its head sublime . 
And whatsoever thing he have, 

Shall prospered be for aye. 
The ungodly shall be like the chaff, 

The wind doth drive away. 

They shall not in the judgment stand. 

Or gather with the just; 
Them the Lord holdeth in his hand; 

The wicked shall be dust. 
149 



5ist PSALM. 

In loving kindness, O my God, 
Show favor; full and free, 

In tender mercies of thy word, 
Blot out my sins for me. 

"Wash me from mine iniquity, 
And cleanse me from my sin. 

For I acknowledge all to thee, 
How sinful I have been. 

Against thee and thee only, did 

This evil in thy sight; 
Speak and thou shalt be justified, 

I own thy judgment right. 

Behold, in sin was I conceived; 

Thou would 'st have truth within, 
B'en now I faint to be relieved. 

Purge me I shall be clean. 

Wash me and I shall whiter be, 
Than the undriven snow, 

The broken bones restore for me; 
What gladness shall I know ? 

Create in me a heart that's clean, 

A spirit right renew, 
And take not from my soul within; 

Hide not thy face from view. 

Restore the joy, I once did know, 

Hold by thy spirit free; 
Thy way I'll then to sinners show, 

And turn their feet to thee. 

150 



My bloody stains, O Lord, erase, 

Thou God, my only trust, 
Then shall my lips declare thy praise 

Till dust returns to dust. 

Not sacrafice, dost thou require, 
Blse would I cheerful give. 

Nor off'ring rendered in the fire, 
A broken heart receive. 

A broken and a contrite heart, 

Thou never wilt despise; 
I bring it thee, no more to part, 

Ivow at thy feet it lies. 



35th ISAIAH. 

Then shall the wilderness be glad. 

The desert shall rejoice, 
With roses blossom far and wide; 

Exulting lift the voice. 

Lebanon shall her cedars wave, 

Carmel her beauty bring, 
Sharon, her rose and lily give. 

And all God's glory sing. 

Strengthen the weak, confirm the faint; 

Bid fearful ones be brave; 
He'll come avenging your complaint. 

To recompense and save. 

The blind shall see, the deaf shall hear. 

The lame as hart shall leap; 
"Waters in barren land appear. 

And streams in desert skip. 

151 



The parched ground shall be a pool, 

The thirsty land a mead, 
Where dragons lay and lions howl, 

His hungry there shall feed. 

And lo, a highway shall be there, 

The way of holiness, 
"Whereon wayfarers need not err. 

And unclean may not pass. 

On it shall not the lion go, 

Or ravenous beast be found, 
His own redeemed that path shall know. 

And walk that holy ground. 

Thy ransomed Lord shall come again, 

To Zion home to stay; 
Eternal gladness shall obtain, 

And sorrow flee away. 



S2d ISAIAH. 

Awake, awake, Zion and put on thy strength, 
Jerus'lem thy beautiful garments put on; 

From henceforth no more shall come into thy length, 
The heathen uncircumcised, or the unclean. 

Shake thyself from the dust, arise and sit down; 

Be loosed, O Jerus'lem from bands of thy neck; 
O daughter of Zion the fair captive one. 

For naught were ye sold, and for naught shall go back. 

Did ye not aforetime to Egypt go down. 

And now the Assyrians oppress without cause; 

Did I not with judgments on Pharaoh frown. 
Can I not redeem you from Babel's proud laws? 

152 



Recall them my people and know my great name; 

For behold, it is I, the mighty to save, 
It is I that doth speak, the Lord is the same, 

So shall ye return, as alive from the grave. 

Thy watchman, O Zion, shall lift up his voice, 
And see the glad messenger running afar; 

That bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, 
Redemption is purchased, salvation is near. 

Break forth in joy, sing together ye wastes; 

O comfort my people that I have redeemed, 
The Lord hath made bare his strong arm, and he hastes 

To let the Earth know his salvation proclaimed. 

Depart ye, depart ye, and go ye out clean; 

And touch not her idols, and taste not their food, 
Thy God will go with thee, let nothing obscene. 

Be with those who carry the vessels of God. 

For ye shall not go as from Egypt in haste. 

Nor yet as they flee, who are stricken with fright ; 

The Lord who was with thee, the wilderness waste. 
Will guard thee before, and behind with his might. 



84.th PSALM. 

O Lord of hosts, how amiable, 

Thy tabernacles are ! 
How longs my heart, and faints my soul; 

In thy courts to appear ! 

There hath the sparrow found a nest. 
Where she may lay her young. 

The swallow there hath sought a rest; 
Thine altars, Lord, among. 

153 



O blessed they tliat there abide, 
They'll still be praising thee; 

O bless'd the man that doth not slide, 
But keeps his steadfast way. 

He, passing through dry Baca's vale, 

Shall find a living well; 
And more and more his strength avail, 

Till he in Zion dwell. 

O God of Jacob, hear my prayer; 

On thine anointed look, 
One day with thee is better far, 

Than thousands in rebuke. 

Doorkeeper would I rather be. 

In temple of my God, 
Than dwell in tents of scornful glee, 

"Where scoffers feet have trod. 

The Lord our God, is sun and shield; 

He grace and glory gives. 
And no good thing will be withheld. 

From him who trustin,^ lives. 



23rd PSALM, 

The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want; 

He maketh me to lie 
In pastures green, the crystal fount. 

And stilly waters by. 

Restores my soul, and leadeth me 

In paths of righteousness; 
And more of his great name I see. 

And triumph in his praise. 

154 



Yea though I walk the dismal shade, 
And meet death's shadow there, 
Thy rod and staff shall render aid, 
No evil will I fear. 

A table for me dost thou spread, 
In presence of my foes; 

With oil of joy anoint my head; 
My gladness overflows. 

Goodness and mercy shall attend 
Me, all my days till night; 

Then, one eternal day I'll spend 
In thy bright house of light. 



4.2d PSALM. 

As doth the hart, with longing look. 
Pant for the cooling water brook. 
So thirsts my soul, O God, for thee; 
When shall I come thy face to see ? 

They taunting say, * ' Where is thy God ? ' ' 
Till tears are all my drink and food; 
But I pour out my soul in prayer, 
And think upon the things that were. 

How I went with the swelling crowd, 
Up to the holy house of God : 
How thrilled my heart with joy and praise, 
Those precious hours, those holy days! 

But now my soul, thou art cast down; 
Why this disquiet in thee shown ? 
Hope thou in God, thou yet shall praise, 
When he shall turn his smiling face. 

155 



Yet why my soul art thou cast down ? 
Think what thou saw'st from Harmon's crown; 
From Mizar's hill, and Jordan's land, 
And look for brighter things at hand. 

What, though deep calleth unto deep, 
Thy waterspouts, do o'er me sweep? 
Though all thy waves and billows go, 
He'll yet his loving kindness show. 

He in the night, my song shall be; 
He'll hear my prayer and answer me; 
My God my Rock, wilt thou forget ? 
Why mourn I that the foe beset ? 

With keen reproach, they wound me sore, 
Where is thy God, thou had'st before ? 
I yet will hope, I yet will praise. 
Who is the comfort of my days. 



BORDERLAND. 

There's a land upon the border of the things that are seen, 
And like to ours only as the ripe is to the green : 
No eye of man hath seen it and no ear of man hath heard, 
But known in measure, unto them, the soundest in the 
word. 

Who stand not on opinion, on confession, or on creed; 

But on the everlasting word, as on a rock indeed; 

Who stagger not when reason says, the thing may never be; 

But march around the grinning walls and shout the 
victory. 

156 



And willing to be this world's fool, that God may make 

them wise, 
And holding earthly good as dross, to wisdom of the skies: 
Who plant their feet on promise grand, and knowing not 

to doubt, 
Appropriate immensity, and find God's secret out. 

Who halt not trembling, on the shore in abject terror wild, 
But venture down amid the roar of walling waters piled; 
Who burst the shackles, that enchain the spirit down to 

sense. 
And give it wing and will to rise into the free expanse. 

And striking down the carnal will, as David him of Gath; 
Intending he no second stroke, the stripling of Bphrath, 
Nor limiting the Holy One, who cleanseth every whit. 
But goeth as an angel clean, according as 'tis writ. 

For who hath said the Spirit pure shall shew us things to 

come, 
Then why should we in heavenly things, be ever blind 

and dumb; 
Shall we not eat the Eshcol grapes, and know the land is 

good; 
Or shall we listen to the spies, and eat the serpent's food. 

Shall we still walk by reason's torch, or learning of the 
schools, 

And in the highest things of God, remain forever fools? 

Affecting to impart the truth, that we by head have 
learned; 

That Wisdom of the word declares, is by the heart dis- 
cerned? 

157 



Thus lifting up another God, and sitting Him aside, 
Who swears there is no other name, in whom we shall 

confide: 
His is the power, and his alone, no other might shall rule; 
But all unwilling to be taught, we build another school. 

Seeking for power more than truth — power of head and 

limb, 
To pamper human pride uncouth, and glory over Him; 
Until like Samson we are bound, and shorn of strength 

and sight; 
And labor but to feed the foe, a blinded Nazarite. 

Know then the holiest of all, is now wide open laid, 
And we by faith may enter in, and shall not be dismayed; 
As unto Peter, James and John, it was allowed to know, 
The glory that was hidden from the nine that stayed 
below. 

Or as to John in Patmos, in the Spirit made to see. 
The things of the hereafter, and that shortly were to be; 
O land of wondrous glory, and of power, and of song. 
Would we but break the gates of brass, and bars of iron 
strong. 

Then be we wise to wake from sleep, that Christ may give 

us light; 
Lest we should dream our life away, and die without the 

sight; 
Unable to make known abroad, the glory shining round, 
Because we did not go to see, but lay in slumber bound. 

A few more flights of faith to lift beyond the rim of sight; 

A few more wing-beats and we rise above the clouds of 
night; 

Shake from the dust, and beaming through your coun- 
tenance shall shine, 

The glory of that upper world, the radiance divine. 

158 



NAAMAN, 

To him was station, wealth and fame, 
Damascus had no prouder name; 
Could fortune do, what she did not, 
To cast for him a better lot? 

His praises rose from many a field, 
His prowess made the foeman yield; 
Alas, this world to satisfy! 
Where every ointment has a fly. 

Mark that strange pallor in his face, 
The token of that dread disease; 
For who the leper can restore? 
A few more suns and all is o'er. 

Naaman had treasure he knew not, 
The little Hebrew maid he brought; 
No mind had she revenge to seek. 
But good for evil to bespeak. 

Would God my master were, she said, 
To prophet in Samaria led; 
Servant of the Most High is He, 
And He would heal his leprosy. 

Then king and Naaman agreed 
To meet and formulate a creed ; 
As often now some learn'd D. Ds., 
Wise above what is written, please. 

Thus they revised; go to the king. 
With much ado, this letter bring; 
And gold most ample to discharge. 
All this most royal prophet's charge. 

159 



So he set out, but missed the way, 
Just as the wise men went astray; 
Setting the light of God aside, 
Consulting flesh and blood in pride. 

The letter brought he to the king, 
As sects do their confessions bring; 
And say 'tis but the word of God, 
With our amendments well allowed. 

No wonder such confusion rose: 
The king in wrath, and rent his clothes; 
*\ly God to kill and make alive ! 
See how a quarrel he would have." 

At length the prophet on the scene. 
Pray what may all this pretence mean, 
Send him to me and he shall know; 
Isreal may yet a prophet show. 

Naaman before the prophet's door, 
The humble cottage of the poor; 
" Say, let him now to Jordan go. 
Dip seven times and he shall know." 

But he was wroth, and went away; 
** I thought he'd come and stand, and pray, 
And strike his hand as other seer: 
The leprosy would disappear." 

Hath not Damascus rivers pure? 

There often have I washed before; 

So in a rage he turned to go, 

"Would none might of his venture know." 

160 



His servants then: " My father, hear, 
Were great things asked thee of the seer, 
Thou wouldst; how much the rather then. 
When he but saith, wash and be clean." 

Then went he down, woe- worn and grave; 
Dipped seven times beneath the wave; 
His flesh came like a little child's; 
His transports rung amid the wilds. 

The greatest feats of Naaman, 

Not the proud battles he had won; 

But triumphs o'er the foes within, 

When he went down and came back clean. 

In Isreal many lepers were. 

The day Blisha was a- stir; 

But none of them did cleansing gain. 

Save Naaman the Syrian. 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR' S DREAM, 

King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream, 
Sleep went away, it troubled him; 
Then the wise magicians did he call, 
Astrologers and sorcerers all. 

And said the king I have dreamed a dream; 
It troubles me to know the same; 
Then said the Chaldeans to the king, 
King live for a3'e, relate the thing. 

Then answered the king and to them say, 
The thing itself, is gone from me. 
The dream and interpretation too. 
Make known or thus 'twill be for you: 

161 



In pieces shall be your bodies cut, 
Your houses to the dunghill brought; 
But if ye shall wholly .show to me, 
Honors, rewards and gifts shall be. 

The dream and interpretation too, 
Both shall ye show, or have to rue ; 
They answered again, let the king tell 
To us the dream and all is well. 

I know, said the king, that ye would gain, 
Time as the thing doth not remain; 
But if ye will not make known the dream, 
I have but one decree to name. 

For lying words have ye all arranged, 
To speak until the thing be changed. 
So tell me the dream and I shall know. 
Ye can interpretation show. 

The magicians said no man on earth 
Can show a dream that's lost at birth; 
Therefore, no ruler or lord, or king, 
Hath asked magician such a thing. 

For a rare thing, doth the king require; 
And none may grant him his desire. 
Excepting the Gods should deign his wish, 
Who dwell not in a house of flesh. 

Then was the king wroth, and very coy, 
Gave orders, wise men to destroy; 
The decree went forth that all be slain, 
Daniel and his, that none remain. 

162 



Then Daniel to Arioch of the guard, 
Gone forth to execute the word : 
"Why is the decree pronounced so soon?" 
Then he to Daniel made it known. 

So Daniel went in, and asked the king, 
That he grant time to shew the thing; 
Then went to his house and made it known, 
To his companions there alone. 

Then asked they this mercy of their God, 
To them this secret be allowed; 
That he and his fellows be not slain. 
With the wise men of Babylon. 

In vision of night the thing was known; 
Then Daniel blessed the Lofty One; 
" Bless'd be the name of our God for this, 
For wisdom, might and truth are His. 

He changeth the seasons and the times, 
Kings and their showy diadems; 
He giveth wisdom unto the wise. 
To them that rightly know to prize. 

Revealeth the deep and secret things; 
Darkness is light to King of Kings, 
I thank and praise thee, my father's God, 
For wisdom unto me allowed. 

Who shewed to me what we so desired. 
The secret which the king required; " 
So Daniel to Arioch went in; 
" Slay not the wise of Babylon." 

163 



* ' Bring me to the king and I will sliew 
The dream that troubled him to know; " 
The king said, * ' Canst thou indeed make known, 
And have interpretation shown?" 

*' The secret," said he, " the king would know, 
Can soothsay'r, nor magician show; 
But God in heaven, would open lay; 
Things to be in the latter day. 

Thy dreams and the visions of thy head. 
That came in slumbers of thy bed; 
Do reveal the things that are to be. 
And God thus maketh known to thee. 

Thou sawest, O king, an image great, 
Its form terrific to relate; 
Its head was of gold, silver the breast; 
The belly brass ; as to the rest. 

The legs were of iron, firm and strong ; 
Iron the feet with clay among; 
Thou sawest a stone cut without hand; 
That smote the image to the sand. 

It fell like the small dust on the moor, 
Or chaff of summer threshing-floor; 
The wind then carried it all away. 
No place was for them to this day. 

But the stone became a mighty state. 
And filled the earth like mountain great; 
This then is thy wondrous dream, O king. 
Now we interpretation bring. 

164 



Thyself, O king, art a king of kings; 
God to thee strength and glory brings; 
Wheresoe'er dwells man or beast or fowl, 
Hath made thee ruler over all. 

Thou then, O king, art this head of gold; 
After thee kingdoms shall unfold; 
Inferior, till a third of brass. 
Bear rule, and all before shall pass. 

Then a fourth shall be as iron strong; 
Breaking in pieces, lasting long; 
But as feet and toes were mixed with clay, 
Though strong shall not unite to Stay. 

For as iron is not joined with clay, 
Nor this to that shall cling alway; 
Then shall the God of Heaven uprear 
A kingdom, to continue e'er. 

It shall not be left, but to its own; 
But break all other kingdoms down; 
As the stone was cut out without hands, 
Yet break the strong metallic bands. 

Thus God hath made known unto the king, 
What shall the great hereafter bring; 
And the dream will certainly enure, 
And make interpretation sure." 

Then fell the king down upon his face, 
Awe-struck at Daniel's wondrous grace; 
Commanded he them oblations bring. 
And offer incense for the .king. 

165 



And said the king, " Of a truth, it bodes, 
Your God is very God of Gods; 
Revealer of secrets, Lord of kings; 
Who could reveal these hidden things. ' ' 

So made he Daniel gifts very great; 
Ruler over the mighty state; 
Of all the governors chief was he, 
Of wise men set to oversee. 

And even more would his favor show; 
Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego, 
Set he over mighty Babylon, 
Daniel, High Chancellor alone. 



WOMAN WITH THE OINTMENT, 

In love she poured the ointment dear 

Upon his precious head; 
Nothing too costly could appear. 

Though it were life instead. 

Waste ! cried a false fault-finder near, 

Far better had been sold. 
As alms been given to the poor; 

He loved the clink of gold. 

Trouble her not, the Master said, 
A good work hath she wrought; 

Me this anointing for the dead, 
So loving hath she brought. 

The poor ye always have with you. 

And ye may do them good; 
But me, not always to bestow 

The kindness that ye would. 

166 



God-giving doth impoverisli not; 

For 'tis the Father's plan, 
That who the most to Christ allot, 

Doth give the most to man. 

So wheresoe'er this word is known, 
Throughout this worldly frame, 

It shall be told what she hath done. 
In honor of her name. 



AHAB AND NABOTH."^ 
Naboth had vineyard in Jezreel, 

Near Ahab's palace fine; 
Ahab did covet and appeal 

To Naboth to assign: 

Sell me thy vineyard, saith the king, 

A better I will give; 
Or should it please, I'll money bring. 

Allow that I may have. 

But Naboth said. The Lord forbid 
That I should give to thee 

Estate that from my fathers did 
Descend to mine and me. 

Displeased did Ahab turn his feet, 

Lay down upon his bed; 
Refused his daily food to eat , 

For word that Naboth said. 

Then Jezebel his wife came near; 

Why is thy heart so sad? 
Doth naught remain thy soul to cheer ? 
Why eatest thou no bread ? 

*I Kings XXI. 

167 



He said, I unto Naboth spake: 

Let me thy vineyard have; 
For money, if thou please to take, 

Or other I will give. 

But he. replied, I will not give 

My vineyard unto thee. 
But Jezebel said, As I live, 

Thy vineyard it shall be. 

Dost thou not govern Israel ? 

Arise and eat thy bread; 
And let thy heart have comfort still. 

And me contrive instead. 

So wrote she letters in his name, 
And sealed them with his seal; 

They unto all the nobles came, 
That in his city dwell. 

And thus she wrote : Proclaim a fast, 

And set Naboth on high; 
Let my two witnesses attest, 

He blasphemed; he shall die. 

Then take and stone him, till he's dead; 

And so the nobles went 
To do as had the letters said, 

That Jezebel had sent. 

Proclaimed a fast, set Naboth high; 

In came two men of Bel; 
Witnessed that Naboth did blaspheme. 

And stoned him that he fell. 

168 



Then sent to Jezebel to say, 

Naboth is stoned and dead; 
She called to Ahab: Rise this day, 

Possession take, she said. 

For Naboth is no more alive. 

Then Ahab rose to go 
To take possession, and contrive, 

To let the public know. 

Then word unto Elijah came, 

God said, "Arise, go down, 
Meet Ahab in the plat, the same 

He has contrived to own. 

Speak unto him; thus saith the Lord, 
Hast killed, thou, and possessed ? 

That place the dogs licked Naboth's blood, 
Shall dogs lick thine at last. ' ' 

And Ahab to Elijah said, 

*' Hast found me, O my foe ? " 
And yea, the prophet answer made; 

' ' Because thou workest wo, 

I will bring on thy house a wail, 

And thou shalt be bereft; 
Will take from Ahab every male, 

And remnant that is left. 

Thy home like Jeroboam's make; 

And like Baasha's slain, 
"Who madest so mine anger wake, 

And Israel to sin." 

169 



Of Jezebel, lie spake as well, 
' * The dogs shall eat her bones, 

By Jezreel's wall, where she shall fall, 
All broken on the stones. 

He that shall in the city die, 

Of Ahab, dogs shall eat; 
And he that in the fields shall lie, 

Shall be the vulture's meat. 

For none was like to him that did 

Kvil before the lyord; 
Whom Jezebel his wife had stirred, 

Till Israel was abhorred." 



ARAB'S DEATH. 

And Ahab to his servants said, 

Ramoth is fairly ours, 
Shall we be still and see it laid, 

Beneath the Syrian powers ? 

Jehoshaphat of Judah then, 

A friendly visit paid; 
And Ahab said, Wilt thou be one. 

At Ramoth-Gilead? 

And he replied, I am as thou. 

My people are as thine; 
But ask thou of the Lord to know, 

If he doth so incline. 

Then Ahab called his prophets all; 

About four hundred men; 
Shall we on Ramoth-Gilead fall. 

Or shall we yet refrain? 

170 



And all with one accord, said, Go; 

The Lord shall give it thee; 
Jehoshaphat said, let us know, 

What man of God may say. 

Then Ahab said, There is but one, 

Of whom we may inquire. 
The man Micaiah, Imlah's son, 

But he provokes my ire. 

He never prophesies me good. 

But evil every day. 
Jehoshaphat, rebuking said, 

" Let not the king so say," 

Calling his marshal, Ahab said, 

Bring Micai',^ Imlah's son; 
Both kings in royal robes arra yed. 

Sat each upon his throne. 

The prophets all before them stood, 

Zed'kiah made him horns; 
With these, with these, as saith the Lord, 

You'll push the Syrians. 

So said the prophets, one and all. 

Go up and prosper thou ; 
Into thy hands shall Ramoth fall. 

The Lord will favor show. 

Then marshal to Micaiah said. 

Behold, the prophets all, 
Have spoken good, with one accord; 

So let thy word befall. 



*Micaiah-I Kings XXII. 

171 



But saith Micaiah, as the lyord 

Shall speak, will I declare; 
What then, saith Ahab, is the word; 

To Ramoth, or forbear? 

And he said, "Go, the Lord shall sell 

The city unto you;" 
The king said, "I adjure thee, tell 

Me only what is true. ' ' 

Then saith he, * ' I saw Israel all 

Scattered upon the hill; 
As sheep that know no shepherd's call, 

And they return at will. ' ' 

Then Ahab to Jehoshaphat: 

Did I not say to thee, 
He speaketh only words of hate, 

And never good to me ? 

And hear thou further, Micai' said, 
The Lord sat on his throne; 

The host of Heaven by Him stood, 
To bear his message down. 

Who'll persuade Ahab ? saith the Lord, 

That he may go and fall. 
At Ramoth-Gilead, by my word? 

And this or that, said all. 

I will persuade, respondeth one; 

And the Lord said. Whereby ? 
I'll be a lying spirit in 

His prophets to decoy. 

17? 



And the Lord said, Thou shalt prevail; 

Thus go and thou shalt do, 
Know then they tell a lying tale, 

Thy prophets are untrue. 

Then Zedeki', Chenani's son, 

Smote Micai' on the cheek. 
And said, "Which way's the spirit gone, 

From me to thee to speak ? ' ' 

And Micai' said, " Lo thou shalt see, 
The day when thou shalt go, 

To inmost chamber, hiding thee. 
That day will plainly show. ' ' 

And Ahab said, "Take Micai' back; 

Let every dainty cease. 
In prison put him and afflict, 

Till I return in peace." 

And Micai' said, "Hearken ye all, 

If thou return in peace, 
God hath not spoke by me at all, 

And prophecy's remiss." 

Jehoshaphat with Ahab hies, 

To Ramoth-Gilead; 
And Ahab said, I will disguise. 

But be thou regal clad. 

The Syrian captains, as were bade, 

Made aim for Israel's king; 
Jehoshaphat as such arrayed, 

Did battle round him bring. 

173 



In dangers dire, he cried to God, 

Who turned the tide away; 
And made them see that he was not, 

The king they aimed to slay. 

But one at venture drew a bow, 
And smote Ahab the where 

His armor joins, " Turn out, for O, 
My wound is very sore. 

"And bear me forth from out the host:" 
But up the king was stayed; 
Because the battle was increased; 
Until at eve he died. 

They brought him to Samaria, 
And washed the chariot gore, 

And dogs his blood did lick, the where 
They Naboth's licked before. 

Thus awful is the word of God; 

And what it saith will be; 
Let all thy paths be straight, for know, 

He doth the crooked see. 



SAMSON. 



Tired he leans upon the beam. 
Would rest awhile the weary limb, 
Grinding for those that hated him; 
'Tis Samson. 

His birth was of the angel told. 
For Israel to the foe was sold; 
Great things expected to unfold, 
Through Samson. 

174 



For he was reared a Nazarite, 
Who unto God is consecrate 
From all his foes to separate, 
This Samson. 

But he went down, as others do, 
Saw what's forbidden to pursue; 
Yet so enticing to the view, 
And wanted. 

His parents then remonstrate came; 
Reproved him that he sought the dame, 
But still his answer was the same; 
She pleaseth. 

So many go in Samson's way, 
For that which pleaseth, far astray, 
Till in the net they helpless lay, 
As Samson. 

Then that that pleaseth will afflict, 
I^eave us of peace and sight relict; 
Of all but labor hard evict, 
So cruel. 

Haggard he leans upon the beam. 

In darkness and remorse extreme, 

Yet having but himself to blame, 

Not heeding. 

Eyeless he turns the heavy mill, 
Day like the night so very still; 
Would he some lonely grave could fill, 
And end it. 

175 



Oh, had he but his God obeyed, 
And the great secret ne'er betrayed, 
Nor trusted false Philistine maid, 
Sighed Samson. 

Who knows but he will yet receive ? 
Is he not gracious to forgive, 
Willing that all return and live ? 
I'll trust him. 

Thrusting his hand amid his hair. 
His locks hang long as ever there; 
The Naz'rite badge doth he not wear, 
As once did? 

Then to his God he made the vow, 
His glory only to pursue. 
And be to Him a Naz'rite true. 
Forever. 

Again the might runs to his arm, 
As lightnings run along the storm. 
And face so haggard has the calm 
Of evening. 

And soon is Dagon's festal day; 
Ladies and lords in bright array, 
To him their adulations pay. 
For Samson. 

Their trumpets sounded in the air; 
They drank their wine with boisterous cheer. 
Bring Samson, was their jest and jeer; 
Bring Samson. 

176 



He comes, the blind old miller comes; 
The awful God that rules the storms 
Hath laid the thunder in his arms; 
All secret. 

"Pray let me once the pillars feel, 
That I may rest me but a while, ' ' 
And then was Samson's latest smile. 
'Tis granted. 

"Remember me, O God, I pray, 
And strengthen me this once to-day; 
And I will ever with thee stay; 
And die here." 

He bowed himself with all his might; 
The pillars yield beneath the weight, 
Fell Dagon and Philistia's fate, 

And glory. 
His latest was his greatest hour. 
The foe went down before his power, 
As flame the stubble doth devour; 

Thus ever. 

We serve not God, by days and years, 
But power that His Spirit bears, 
To them that master flesh and cares; 
Remember. 



90th PSALM. 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place, 

All generations through, 
Before the mountains rose in space. 
Or earth's strong pillars had a base. 
Even from everlasting days. 

To everlasting. Thou. 

177 



Thou turnest man unto the clay, 

Or earnest with a flood; 
Thou art not weary at delay, 
A thousand years are yesterday; 
As watch of night they pass away, 

Forever thou art God. 

But man, frail man, is like the grass. 

At morn it springeth up, 
At eve is it cut down; alas. 
His narrow bound he may not pass ; 
Thine anger brings him to distress. 

Or sends him to his sleep. 

Our sins are all before Thy face, 

Our secret sins are known; 
And in Thy wrath, we pass our days, 
For we have erred against Thy ways; 
Our years may like a tale amaze, 

The spell is broken soon. 

Our days are three-score years and ten. 
Or if by strength, four-score. 

Though we should add another span, 

Labor and sorrow lead the van; 

They swifter fl}'- than eagles can, 
So soon our days are o'er. 

Thine anger who will dare to raise ? 

Thy wTath who will provoke ? 
Teach us to number so our days. 
To turn our hearts to wisdom's ways; 
Turn Thou to us, attune our lays. 

And we'll Thy name invoke. 

178 



Oh, satisfy us early, Lord, 
And make us to be glad; 

Affliction long didst Thou accord; 

Thy beauty to us now afford. 

And purify us by Thy word, 
And we'll with Thee abide. 



ABSALOM, 



Absalom, my son, my son. 

My much beloved, my gifted one; 

1 could have died, could that have won 
A better fate for thee. 

Absalom, thy lips are still; 
The brow I kissed so oft is chill; 

No more this heart of mine will thrill 
To see thy manly form. 

'Tis hard to think that thou art dead; 

1 see thee on thy little bed, 

Thy jetty curls all thickly spread, 
Around thy comely brow. 

Or bounding to thy father's knee, 
Thy dark eye shining lustrously, 
My heart exulting high to see; 
It seems as even now. 

Absalom, my Absalom, 

1 still had hoped to see thee come, 
A safe and sincere contrite, home, 

From that last bloody field. 
179 



Did not I charge the host with care, 
That they in tenderness should spare, 
And bring me back my boy so fair, 
My erring loved one home ? 

'Twas Joab's dark and bloody hand, 
His cruel, unrelenting band, 
That set at naught the king's command, 
And drenched his soul with tears. 

Oh, can it be thou couldst have thought 
This heart so faithless to have sought, 
Thy life for aught a kingdom brought, 
Or all this world's domain ? 

I only thought upon the day. 
Thou didst a spotless infant lay, 
Guileless as morning dews of May, 
My cherub Absalom. 

To give my crown it were my joy, 
Hadst thou but gone, my spotless boy, 
Bre vice had found thee to destroy, 
Thy innocence and grace. 

O Absalom, thy star so bright. 
The fairest of the orbs of light. 
Hath gone down in the darkest night. 
And never to return. 

Is this alas! is this the sum, 
In the wild woods of Ephraim, 
Rises thy rude and lonely tomb. 
And not in the king's dale? 

180 



O Absalom, the deed is done; 
So quickly thy career is run, 
That seems but yesterday begun; 
Well may I mourn for thee. 

And soon will not those tears be dry, 
Till I shall find a tranquil sky, 
Where tears shall never dim the eye. 
And joy may bloom again. 

PHARAOH O VERTHRO WN, 

It was told Pharaoh the king, 

How that the people fled; 
Then did his strong resentments spring. 

He to his servants said : 

Why have we thus let Israel go. 

That they no longer serve? 
Prepare my chariot to pursue; 

They shall my rigor prove. 

The Lord thus hardened Pharaoh's heart; 

He looked for easy prey; 
" They are entangled at the start 

'Tween Migdol and the sea." 

Then Israel unto Moses said, 
" Had Egypt then no graves, 

That ye have thus the people led, 
To perish in the waves ? 

And wherefore hast thou dealt with us ? 

Did we not to thee cry, 
* Let us alone,' 'twere better thus. 

Than lead us out to die ? " 
181 



Then Moses to the people say, 

* * Stand still and ye shall see 
Salvation from the Lord to-day, 

Yourselves forever free." 

*' For the Egyptians whom ye fear, 

Ye'll see again no more; 
The Lord's strong hand will now appear; 

Your murmuring be o'er." 

The Lord then unto Moses said, 

* ' Why criest thou to me ? 
Speak to the people thou hast led, 

Go forward to the sea. 

** But lift thy hand and stretch thy rod, 

The waters shall divide; 
And all the people go dry-shod, 

"With wall on either side. 

'* I'll harden the Egyptians' hearts, 

And they shall follow on, 
Their horsemen and their chariots 

Shall bring me honor soon. 

*' And then shall the Egyptians know 

That it is I, the Lord, 
When I have done to Pharaoh, 

According to my word. ' ' 

God's angel then that went before, 

Behind the camp did go. 
The cloud before their face, then bore 

Between them and the foe. 

182 



It was but the darkness unto them, 

But light by night to these; 
One did not near the other come, 

That night of fatal ease. 

So Moses stretched out his hand, 

God made the sea divide; 
Came all that night a strong east wind : 

The waters did subside. 

Then Israel went into the sea, 
And all the ground was dry; 

The waters on their right and left, 
A wall uplifted high. 

And Egypt's blinded host pursued; 

Horsemen and chariots all. 
And knew not how the waters stood, 

An overhanging wall. 

And knew not how God's awful eye 

Did from the pillar see; 
Took off their chariot wheels, or why 

They drove so heavily. 

Too late at last they saw and said, 

lyct us from Israel flee; 
The Lord is fighting in their stead, 

And we are made a prey. 

But Moses stretched forth his rod, 

The sea returned again; 
All that proud host, by wrath of God, 

Was swallowed in the main. 
183 



But Israel went upon dry land; 

The overhanging wave, 
Defence to them on every hand, 

Was to their foe a grave. 

Thus Israel saw that wondrous hand, 
The Lord to them did show; 

Egyptians dead upon the sand, 
And trusted him anew. 



SONG A T THE SEA. 

O sing to the Lord, who can triumph as He? 
The horse and his rider are thrown in the sea. 
The Lord is my strength, my salvation and song, 
My God, I'll prepare him a dwelling-place long. 

The God of my fathers and I will exalt; 
The mighty in battle; the Lord he is called; 
All Pharaoh's host hath he cast in the sea. 
His captains so chosen, are silent as he. 

The depths have gone over, they sank as a stone, 
Thy right hand, O Lord, hath delivered thine own; 
Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power, 
Thy right hand hath rolled back the sea to devour. 

Where now is the foe that rose up in their might. 
That said, " I'll pursue, overtake and divide, 
My sword will I draw, and my hand shall destroy" ? 
Thou sentest thy wrath, and no more they annoy. 

At blast of thy nostrils, the floods were a heap, 
The depths were congealed in the midst of the deep, 
Thy winds they did blow and the sea came again, 
Like lead in great waters, they sank in the main. 

184 



Who is like unto thee, O Lord of the Gods, 

So glorious in holiness, fearful in odds; 

Who doeth great wonders; thou stretched'st thine 

hand, 
The earth swallowed up at thy binding command. 

Thou ledest thy people, which thou hast redeemed, 
And guided to holy inheritance named; 
The nations shall hear, and great sorrow take hold 
On all Palestina, and Bdom the bold. 

The mighty of Moab shall tremble as they, 
The dwellers of Canaan shall all melt away; 
At might of thine arm they'll be still as a stone 
Till thine shall pass over, thy purchased, and own. 

Thou wilt bring them and plant, in place where thou 

dwell, 
In thy holy mountain thou lovest so well; 
O reign thou forever; we went on dry land, 
The chariots of Pharaoh were dashed in the sand. 



HAGBR AND ISHMAEL. 

It was the darkest of all days to him 

Since he had left the Chaldees years before; 

His God and Sarah both unite to trim 
The wild shoots growing round the household door. 

Cast out, they say, bond woman and her son; 

The beauteous boy twice seven summers old, 
That he had doted on, as if the one 

In whom the hope and promise should unfold. 

Him that he circumcised, for whom he prayed, 
And said, O that my Tshmael might live; 

Whom God had blessed, to whom he promise made. 
Of fruitfulness; a nation to him give. 

185 



And now, cast out bond- woman and her son ; 

It was as though his heart were rent in two; 
For though the boy did mock, when they did wean 

The son of promise, it was death to do. 

That night was struggle in the father's heart; 

The weary pilgrim of a hundred years; 
Decision gained; but O the hidden smart, 

It struck the fountain of his griefs and tears. 

Next morning early rising, straight he took 
The bottle with the water, and the bread; 

To lay them on her shoulder, — but to look 

Would start the tears fast oozing from his head. 

For how could he endure to see them go, 
lyike waning shadows in the outer wild ; 

And see no more, and nevermore to know 
What fate befell the fondly loved child ? 

Or did some Spirit whisper from within, 
"Entrust them wholly to my tender care; 

In their extremity will I begin 

To teach thy Ishmael in my house of prayer' ' ? 

So alimony small he gave to them; 

Soon was the water gone, the bottle dry; 
The faint boy laid she 'neath the acacia stem, 

And said, Let me not live to see him die. 

Withdrew she then a bow-shot and sat down. 
And lifted up her trembling voice and wept; 

Then prayed the lad, that erst did mock and frown; 
God heard his voice, and well his promise kept. 

186 



What ails thee, Hager? cries a voice from Heaven; 

Fear not, for God hath seen his humbled state; 
Rise, lift the lad, for unto him is given 

To be the father of a nation great. 

Her eyes were opened, and she saw a well: 
She filled the bottle and revived the child; 

And God was with him, and the fleet gazelle 
Fell by his arrow on the bounding wild. 



BABEL'S WATERS. 

By Babel's waters we sat dov/n. 

And let our hearts o'erflow; 
The city of our joy and crown. 

All wasted by the foe. 

Our harps we on the willows hung, 
Be sweetness far from earth; 

Our taunting captors asked a song. 
And they that spoiled us mirth. 

Song from the sadly wounded bird, 
From hearts with sorrow torn; 

The broken people of the Lord, 
So weary, wasted, worn ! 

Forever be those harps unstrung 

By Old Chaldeah's strand; 
Forever Zion's songs unsung 

Far in the stranger land. 

Hang mute upon those weeping boughs, 

Sigh with the river's moan; 
Our beautiful and holy house, 

Our pleasant things are gone. 

187 



We have seen Salem's children cry, 
And no one gave them bread; 

Then in their mother's bosom die, 
Her virgins hang the head. 

In vain did Zion spread her hands, 

Her comforters were far; 
Her young men scattered in the lands, 

Or perished in the war. 

Can we forget Jerusalem ? 

Then let our cunning fail, 
Our tongue be mute, our eyes be dim, 

And every grief assail. 

Requite to cruel Bdom, Lord, 

As she to us, that day; 
Bxulting when the ruthless sword 

Our helpless children slay. 

Lord, in the day thy sword shall flash, 

When she for guilt atones, 
Let him be happy that shall dash 

Her children on the stones. 



DA VID AND GOLIATH. 

There went a giant Philistine, 
His height six cubics and a span; 
Helmet of brass and coat of mail. 
With shield and spear of wondrous tale. 

This mighty champion of Gath 
All Israel did defy in wrath; 
" Choose ye a man, if he will dare 
Contend with me and honors share." 

188 



If he prevail and me shall slay, 
We are your servants from this day; 
If I prevail and he shall fall, 
Then shall ye be our servants all. 

And so I do defy this day; 
Send one to meet me if ye may. ' ' 
Now Saul was tall, but was afraid; 
All Israel heard, but were dismayed. 

David was there of Bethlehem; 
From feeding of the flock he came; 
Of Jesse's sons the youngest, he; 
There followed Saul the elder three. 

. He came to bring his brethren bread; 
Early he rose, with haste he sped, 
Came to the trench just as the fray 
Began; each army in array. 

He ran his brethren to salute, 
The time the champion came about; 
He heard the bold defiance clear. 
And saw his people shrink with fear. 

They told what bounty Saul would pay 
To him who would the giant slay; 
'• Who, then," said David, " who is he, 
That should the host of God defy ? " 

Kliab then his brother chide, 
And charged him, naughtiness and pride; 
** Why camest thou, why left the sheep ? " 
But David did his patience keep. 

189 



They tell the words that David spake 
To Saul, who unto him did take; 
And David said, " Let no heart fail; 
Thy servant shall o'er him prevail." 

And Saul said, " Thou art but a youth; 
And he a man of war; in truth, 
Thou art no match against his arm; " 
But David said, " I fear no harm. 

Thy servant kept his father's sheep; 
A lion and a bear did leap; 
A lamb was taken from the flock; 
I smote them, and I brought it back. 

Thy servant did the lions slay, 
This Philistine shall be as they; 
"Who dare in his presumption cry, 
And host of living God defy ? 

God saved me from the lion's paw, 
And he will from this peril draw." 
And Saul said unto David, " Go, 
The God of Israel favor show. ' ' 

Then Saul put helmet on his head, 
And coat of mail about him tied; 
And girding on his sword to go, 
He had not proved them, off he threw. 

A staff in his one hand he took; 

Chose five smooth stones from out the 
brook; 

And putting in his shepherd's scrip, 

His sling in hand did well equip. 

190 



Near to the Philistine he drew; 
The Philistine came nearer too; 
One bearing his broad shield before, 
He could not ask for safety more. 

He scorned the ruddy stripling fair; 
* * Am I a dog that thou shouldst dare 
Venture upon me with thy rods ? ' ' 
Then cursed he David by his gods. 

*' Come to me," he to David said, 
"I'll give thy flesh the fowls to feed; " 
Then David to the Philistine: 
"Thou on thy sword and spear dost lean, 

' ' But I to thee come in the name 
Of Israel's God thou dost defame; 
This day will he deliver thee, 
And all this vaunting host shall flee. 

" And Israel's God the earth shall fear; 
He saveth not with sword and spear, 
His is the battle, he will slay. 
And give you to our hands a prey. ' ' 

Then to meet David he drew near; 
The shepherd boy knew not to fear; 
Laid in his sling a stone and threw 
To centre of his forehead true. 

Prone fell the giant on his face; 
And not to leave of life a trace. 
The stripling drew the giant's sword, 
Struck off his head so grim and gored. 

191 



The host perceiving lie was dead, 
Quaking with fear, in haste they fled; 
Then Israel shouted and pursued ; 
And came with spoil and heart renewed. 

Then from afar the virgins came, 
With dancing feet and loud acclaim; 
' ' Saul slew his thousands in the fray, 
But David his ten-thousands slay. ' ' 

And thus shall we God glorify. 
Trusting in Him when danger's nigh; 
So before us will giants fall, 
And earth be freed from doubt and thrall. 



DA VID'S LAMENT FOR SAUL 
AND JONATHAN, 

Red Mount of Gilboa, the mighty are slain; 
No more on thy top fall the dew or the rain, 
For there is the shield of the great cast away; 
Of Saul the annointed, our king and our stay. 

And there lies the fragment of Jonathan's bow, 
That ever came red from the blood of the foe; 
O were they not lovely, and sweet in their lives! 
They die undivided, and Israel grieves. 

As eagles more swift, and as lions more strong, 
Ye daughters of Israel, weep for them long; 
They clothed you in scarlet, in jewels and gold, 
Now slain in high places and scattered the fold. 

192 



My brother, my Jonathan, I am distressed, 
More hast thou been to me than all I possessed; 
Thy love was surpassing, it can't be replaced; 
The mighty are perished, the glory is lost. 

The beauty of Israel fallen and slain, 
Let it not be published in proud Askalon; 
And tell not in Gath, lest her daughters be glad, 
When Israel's virgins have dust on their head. 

O bloody Gilboa, how can we refrain? 
Our garments are rent and our fastings remain; 
The loved ones are perished; the house of the Lord, 
Is low by the hand of the Philistine sword. 

In vain did the stranger expect a reward. 
Who in his presum])tion, made haste with the word; 
As speechless his lips, and as bloodless his clay. 
As that of the mighty we're wailing to-day. 



BIRTH OF MOSES. 

A house in Levi had a son, 
They saw in him a chosen one; 
Though doomed by king's decree to die, 
They dared that king's decree defy. 

And so they hid him months a-trice. 
Till hiding would no more suffice; 
Then made an ark of rushes, glued 
With slime and pitch, secure and good. 

In this the chosen child was laid. 
In flags hard by the river's side; 
Convenient off his sister stood. 
To wit what to him happen would. 

193 



The daughter of the king came down 
To bathe in Egypt's cooling stream; 
She and her maidens walked along, 
And saw the ark the flags among. 

She sent and took the favored child; 
The baby v/ept; she on him smiled: 
And had compassion, "This is one 
Poor Hebrew waif, outcast, alone," 

His sister said, "Shall I then go 
And seek a Hebrew nurse for you ? ' ' 
And she said. Go: the maiden smiled, 
And called the mother of the child. 

" Take thou this child, nurse it for me, 
And I to thee will wages pay, ' ' 
She nursed the child, till he grew on. 
And was to Pharaoh's daughter, son. 

And thus the faithful Moses grew, 
And all Egyptian wisdom knevv; 
In heart and hand, was ever nigh, 
Responsive to his people's cry. 

Israel in bondage now no more; 
Safe planted on the other shore, 
Led out by one prepared the while, 
The helpless infant of the Nile. 

"Who like the Lord, can v/onders do, 
Past finding out ? Trust him anew; 
He can deliver wondrous ways, 
And turn the wrath of man to praise. 

194 



MOSES. 

Full six-score years have spent their force 

Since he, an infant small, 
Lay where the swelling Nile her course 

Wound by the rushes tall. 

As yet in nowise dimmed his eye. 

And steady is his step, 
When summons comes for him to die 

On lonely Nebo's top. 

He had been reared in kingly halls, 

Amid the pomp of state; 
But all that pomp or pride installs. 

Could not his heart elate. 

Of Pharaoh's daughter, did refuse 

Still to be called the son ; 
But rather did affliction choose, 

To win a brighter crown. 

The lofty and the lowly way. 

Alike to him by turn; 
The heir to Egypt's crown to-day. 

Then, lonely shepherd worn. 

His wondrous rod, by might of God, 

Did smite the sea and land. 
As not a host that ever trod, 

Or magic's fabled wand. 

He rolled the sea to make a path. 
And called the winds to dry; 

He rolled again, in dreadful wrath, 
All Egypt heard the cry. 

195 



The people murmur and he sends 

The manna from above; 
They thirst; the flinty rock he rends, 

And gushing waters leave. 

At his dread word the earth would cleave, 

To let offenders down ; 
At that same word the plague would leave, 

And death withdraw her frown. 

He stood where Sinai's thunders shook 

The granite mountain strong. 
When hung the cloud on summit dark, 

And trumpet sounded long. 

To the thick darkness he drew near. 

And God to him did call; 
All Israel stood aloof in fear; 

He, with the Lord of all. 

To him the high and jealous God 

Did give his awful law; 
In stone with his own finger writ, 

And on his heart with awe. 

There hath not since a prophet been. 

Among the sons of men. 
Who face to face the Lord had seen 

And talked as man to man. 

No earthly goods had he to bind, 

He took no spoils of war, 
A pilgrim's tent to leave behind 

Instead of Egypt's store, 

196 



Light forfeit the command to brook, 

To lay his power down; 
All gain to drop the shepherd's crook, 

To take the shepherd's crown. 

He passed from blessing to the blessed, 

Like golden setting sun, 
As glory's banner in the west 

Allures to glory on. 

Him the Lord laid in Moab's plain. 

Against Beth-Peor's hill; 
And no man saw that funeral train. 

Or where he lay so still. 

Peaceful as when the mother dear 
Her sleeping child would bear, 

Taking his eye from Canaan here, 
To rest on Canaan there. 



MOSES' SONG."^ 

Give ear O ye heavens, my mouth shall declare. 
And hearken, earth hearken my doctrine to hear 
My speech shall distil as the dew and the rain. 
As showers reviving the grass of the plain. 

Because I will publish the name of the Lord, 
Ascribe ye all majesty unto our God: 
For he is the rock and his judgments are right, 
His ways are in equity, just in his sight. 

If ye become crooked, corrupt and perverse. 
The spot is not his, but the mark of the curse; 
Requite ye the Lord thus, O foolish unwise, 
Is he not thy father, that made thee his prize ? 



*Deut. XXXII. 

197 



Remember the days, ask the sages of old, 
Thy elders will tell and thy fathers unfold; 
When the Most High to men accorded their grounds, 
His eye was to Israel her metes and her bounds. 

For know that his people, the Lord's portion be 
And Jacob his lot and inheritance free; 
He found him in desert and waste-howling land, 
He led him, instructed, and held in his hand. 

As eagle, her nest stirreth up, flutters o'er 

Her young, and doth bear them and teach them to 
soar; 

His Lord alone led him, he knew no strange god, 

And on the high places of plenty he rode. 

He made him to eat the increase of the field. 
For him the hard rock did the sweet honey yield ; 
Brought oil from the flinty rock, butter of kine; 
Fat of lambs and of goats, and wheat superfine. 

He drank sweetest milk , and pure blood of the grape 
But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked to escape; 
All o'ergrown with fatness, he lightly esteemed 
His rock of salvation, and was not ashamed. 

Provoked me to jealousy with their strange Gods, 
To devils did sacrifice, not to the Lord; 
To gods whom they knew not, that came newly up, 
Their fathers had feared not, impure and corrupt. 

Of rock that begat them, unmindful were they; 
Forgetful of God, that had formed them from clay; 
And when this he saw, he removed from his sight, 
Abhorred his own children, and hid his own light. 

198 



I will soon see their end, so faithless they be, 
For, with what is not God, have they provoked me; 
And I'll provoke them v/ith a people that's not, 
To jealousy move and to anger allot. 

My fire is kindled, to burn and consume; 
The earth with her increase, the mountains illume; 
I, mischiefs will heap, and my arrows will spend. 
With hunger devour, and destruction w^ill end. 

With teeth of the beasts, and with serpents destroy; 
With sword from without, and with terrors annoy; 
And young man and virgin, and man of gray hairs, 
Shall sink with the suckling in death unawares. 

I'd scatter them small, 'till remembrance be lost, 
V/ere it not that I feared the enemy's boast; 
Lest they say, 'tis our hand, so strong and so high, 
'Tis not the Lord's work, but our gods that were nigh. 

O, were they but wise, and did understand this. 
To see what the end be, and not go remiss; 
Could one chase a thousand, and two put to flight " 
Ten thousand, had God not deserted them quite ? 

For their rock is not ours, vain on him to call, 
Their vine is of Sodom, and bitter as gall; 
Their wine is the poison of dragons and asps, 
All this is in store, sealed up in my clasps. 

To me belongs vengeance, their feet shall soon slide. 
The day of their judgment shall haste to betide: 
For the Lord his people will judge, yet repent 
When they see the gods whom they trusted are spent. 

199 



They ate of their fat and they drank of their wine, 
Yet came not to help, in the day they repine; 
lyet them see now that I, I only am He; 
I kill, make alive, and there's no God with me; 

There is none can deliver out of my hand; 
For I live forever, my judgment shall stand; 
If I whet my sharp sword, I vengeance will take. 
And thus will reward who mine anger shall wake. 

Mine arrows I'll make to be dmnkwith their blood; 
And my sword shall devour who turn from their God; 
Rejoice with his people, ye nations rejoice, 
For he will show mercy to them of his choice. 

And Moses this song to all Israel brought; 
He said set your hearts to the words I have taught: 
Command ye your children, to keep and to do; 
For it is your life and no vain thing for you : 
Through this shall ye lengthen your days in the land, 
When over this Jordan God calls thee to stand. 



RIZPAH. 



From Gibeah of Saul a wail, 
A sad and sorrowing sight, 

A mother worn with grief, and pale 
In watchings day and night. 

For they have made her sons atone 
For crimes that Saul had done, 
And hung them on their crosses lone 
To waste in wind and sun. 

200 



And she hath spread her sackcloth gray, 

In vigils to affright 
The ravens that would come by day 

And jackals of the night. 

Her sacred trust to guard their dust; 

The vultures shall not tear 
Those bodies nourished at her breast 

And fostered by her care. 

'Tis barley-harvest's festal day, 

A time of mirth and song; 
But one will hear no joyous lay, 

And sing no cheerful song. 

The music of her heart is fled, 

No harmony remains; 
No song for her whose sons are dead; 

Fasting, and grief, and pains. 

O day, the darkest of the years; 

Such sad reverse to her, 
Whose eyes are looking through their tears 

To better things that were. 

For she had dwelt in kingly halls, 

In royal linen fine, 
Now wrapped in sackcloth, faint she falls, 

In pelt of rain and shine. 

O when the under cloud's so dark, 

'Tis hard to look above, 
And see the silver line and mark 

A Father's hand of love. 

201 



Twere hard that on her sons be laid 

The sins of guilty Saul; 
Had he not full atonement made 
In that last bloody fall ? 

And yet who laid our burdens gross, 

Upon his only son, 
And led him to the shameful cross; 

Of twain thus making one. 

And who made sin was thus despised, 

And we our faces hid; 
For our transgressions was chastised 

And to the slaughter led. 

Yet not a murmur; meek he stood 

Before his shearers dumb; 
He saw the glory and endured, 

He saw his kingdom come. 

The things unseen are more than seen; 

This death is temporal; 
The dust he made can raise again. 

Reanimate it all. 

High honor for the mother-love; 

Thy fastings not in vain; 
We trust in blessedness above, 

Hast met thy loved again. 

Our hearts are with thee on the rock; 

We bring the meed of tears; 
I,ong shall thy plaintive story shock 

The heart of him that hears. 

203 



JACOB. 

He of the birthright truly blessed, 
Is poor sojourner, sorely pressed, 
Of few and evil days possessed; 
A pilgrim. 

God lifteth up by letting down, 
The cross the cradle to the crown; 
He chooseth in affliction's frown. 
Yet trust him. 

Though we from Ksau run away, 
We'll come to meet some after day. 
And his four-hundred all at bay; 
Remember. 

The son of Isaac from the East; 
Returns of many flocks possessed. 
Betimes the angels are his guests; 
But Esau. 

He comes, and with him many men; 
What can his angry brother mean, 
But with their blood to dye the plain? 
Red Esau. 

All dark without, and dark within, 
Remembrance comes of Jacob's sin; 
And needs he help of God to win 
The battle. 

"God of my fathers, who didst say. 
Return, and I will be with thee. 
Unworthy I thy truth to see; " 
Said Jacob. 

203 



' ' I with my staff this Jordan passed, 
But thou, O Lord, thy servant blessed, 
Till I of much am now possessed; 
Thou gavest. 

" Deliver from my brother's hand, 
I fear his dark and bloody band; 
Helpless my wives and children stand 
Before him. 

** Didst thou not say, ' I'll do thee good, 
And make thy seed a multitude, 
As sands along the seashore strewed * ? " 
Said Jacob. 

Then to Lord Esau, present sends. 
Cattle and kine in meek amends; 
All from thy servant Jacob's hands, 
So humble. 

And as the present goes before. 
His households pass the Jabbok o'er; 
Then all alone he strove in prayer 
With stranger. 

He wrestled till the break of day; 
His adversary would delay; 
Nor bless if he could get away. 
So seemed it. 

Pray let me go, the morning breaks; 
Except thou bless I'll not relax; 
He touched his thigh, and as it slacks, 
Yields Jacob. 

204 



No more he strove, his strength gave way, 
"Thou art not Jacob from this day; 
On thee a new name will I lay, 
Israel." 

For as a prince doth power wield, 
With God and man hast thou prevailed; 
And vanquished Esau, and his mailed 
Four hundred. 

Avv^ay went all distress and fear; 
Went all concern for Esau near, 
And new is even Jacob's prayer: 
Uplifted. 

No more now, let me Esau shun, 
But tell thy name, thou wondrous one; 
He blessed him there at rise of sun; 
Salvation. 

And there may we alike be blessed. 
Where selfish Jacob sinks to rest, 
And God to know, is all our quest; 
O prove him. 

The brothers meet upon the plain, 
Such field was never fought again; 
In tears; and none bewailed the slain; 
Such victory ! 

O wondrous triumphs of the meek ; 
Shall not their tongues forever speak, 
And bring the tear to seraph's cheek? 
So noble. 

205 



O sue you out that higher name, 
That v/aits you in eternal fame, 
Princehood and power be your aim; 
And wrestle. 

" Deliver us from evil," still, 
Our prayer; and 'tis his holy will, 
As he to Jacob did fulfil, 
To grant it. 



JOSEPH.-^ 

Then Joseph could no more refrain. 

Before them that stood by, 
And said he, "Let no man remain," 

And soon no one was nigh. 

Then made him to his brethren known; 

And Joseph was distressed; 
Egyptians heard and Pharaoh own, 

And thus he them addressed: 

'* I'm Joseph; doth my father live ? " 
His brethren could not hear, 

For at his presence did they grieve, 
But Joseph called them near. 

He said, "I'm Joseph whom ye sold; 

Now therefore do not grieve, 
For God did send me to uphold. 

That you and yours might live. 

" For two years hath the famine been, 

And yet for five to come; 
Baring nor harvest shall be seen. 
Such dark impending gloom. 
♦Gen. XLV. 

206 



*' And God did send me on before, 

That all of you might live; 
All Pharaoh's house he set me o'er, 

Of Egypt made me shrieve. 

*• Haste ye and to my father go, 

And say, thus Joseph said; 
God made me I^ord of Egypt, so, 

Come down; be not afraid. 

** Thou shalt in land of Goshen dwell. 

And near to me shall be, 
Thy children, children's children, all; 

Thy flocks and herds with thee. 

" There will I nourish thee, for yet. 

Five 3'ears of famine be; 
I,est thou, thy house, and all hast got, 

Should come to poverty, 

" Now ye behold, and Benjamin; 

That my mouth doth declare; 
So tell my father when you've gone, 

You saw my glory here." 

Then wept he upon Benj'min's neck. 

And Benjamin on his. 
Did weep with all, and with them talk, 

Did all his brethren kiss. 

Fame came thereof to Pharaoh's house, 

Of Joseph's brethren come; 
The matter well did Pharaoh please. 

His chief men, and his home. 
207 



Then Pharaoh unto Joseph said, 

" Say to thy brethren, Go 
To Canaan to thy father, lade, 

And bring him down to you. 

* * Take wagons for your little ones, 
And for your wives, and come; 

The good of Egypt's for your sons, 
Mind not your stuff or home." 

So Joseph did them wagons give. 

Provision for the drive; 
To each a change of raiment gave; 

To Benjamin gave five. 

And to his father thus he sent. 

Of asses laden down, 
With corn, and bread and meat, there went, 

A score in caravan. 

His brethren then he sent away, 

" See that ye fall not out; " 
And safe in Canaan landed they 

From perils of the rout. 

And to their father Jacob said, 

" Joseph is yet alive; 
Of all the land of Egypt head, 

The governor and shrieve." 

But Jacob's heart grew faint and^dead. 

For he believed them not; 
They told the words that Joseph said, 

And shewed the gifts they brought. 

208. 



And when lie saw the wagons sent 

To carry liim away, 
His spirit came again, and lent 

To Israel strength to say : 

** It is enough; enough for me, 

My son is yet alive; 
I will go down and Joseph see. 

While yet my strength survive," 

■80 Israel went with all he had, 

And came to Beersheba; 
There sacrificed unto the God 

His father did obey. 

God spake to Jacob in the night; 

He said, "Here am I; Lo, 
I am thy father's God," he said, 

*' Fear not, to Bgypt go. 

"I'll make thee there a nation great, 

I will go down with thee; 
And I will surely bring thee out, 

Joseph thine eyes shall see." 

Then Jacob rose from Beersheba, 

The sons of Israel went; 
Their wives and little ones convey, 

In wagons Pharaoh sent. 

Their cattle, goods, and all they had ; 

And into Egypt came, 
Jacob, his sons and all his seed, 

Brought he adown with him. 

209 



And Judah did he send before, 

To Joseph, to direct 
Their face to Goshen, even where 

Their brother would expect. 

Joseph made ready, and went up 
To meet his father there; 

Upon his neck he fell to weep; 
A good while fell the tear. 

And Israel said, " Now let me die. 

To see thee, I survive; 
Mine eyes behold thee set on high. 

And thou art yet alive." 



JACOB'S BLESSING.-^ 

Ye sons of Jacob, gather near. 
And hear what shall befall — 

My sunset hath a vision clear; 
Hearken to Israel. 

Reuben, my first-born, thine by will 
The excellence of power. 

Unstable, thou shalt not excel, 
Or hold thy birthright dower. 

Thou wentest to thy father's bed. 
That sleepless eye did see; 

Thy double portion forfeited. 
Another's shall it be. 

Brethren are Simeon and Levi, 

Their 's is the cruel sword; 
Into their secret came not I. 
My soul the blood abhorred. 
*Gen. XLIX. 

210 



Curse to their anger, it was fierce, 

And bloody was their hand; 
In Jacob will I them disperse, 

And scatter in the land. 
Judah, thou art whom all shall praise, 

Thine enemies may quake; 
Thou hast with them no compromise; 

Thy hand is in their neck. 
Thy father's sons shall bow to thee, 

Thou art a lion's whelp; 
Thou hast but gone up from the prey, 

And couched; who'll raise him up? 

From him shall not the sceptre go, 

Lawgiver from his feet, 
Until Messiah come, and lo. 

The gathering people meet. 

Binding his foal unto the vine, 

To the choice vine he tied; 
His garments did he wash in wine. 

In blood of grapes were dyed. 
His eyes with wine shall redden shine, 

His teeth with milk be white. 

Zebulon, dwell thou by the sea; 

An haven be for ships; 
His border unto Zidon be; 

Sweets from afar he sips. 

Issacher is an ass between 

Two burdens lying down; 
And rest is good, the land is green, 

He'll rather bear than frown. 
211 



His people Dan shall judge and hear, 

A serpent in the track; 
He striketh at the horse's rear, 

His rider shall fall back. 

For thy salvation, Lord, I wait; 

O haste the promised rest; 
Thou Gad, a troop shall thee defeat, 

Thou shalt o'ercome at last. 

Asher shall have abundant bread, 

And royal dainties yield; 
Naphtali is a hind ahead, 

His goodly words a shield. 

But Joseph is a fruitful bough 

That springeth by a well ; 
High o'er the wall his branches grow 

Though envy's arrow fell. 

The archers shot and grieved him sore, 
His bow in strength abode; 

His hands upholden but the more, 
By Jacob's mighty God. 

Thy father's God shall holpen thee, 

Almighty shall bequeath, 
The blessings of the Heaven free. 

And of the deep beneath. 

Thy father's blessings shall prevail. 

Above all heretofore, 
High as the everlasting hill. 

Above the level shore. 
212 



They shall be upon Joseph's head, 
Crown of the head of him, 

So long the separate and dead; 
His blessings to the brim. 

Benjamin as a wolf shall rave, 
At morn devour the prey. 

At night divide the spoil he crave, 
No more the vision say. 

This is the word that Israel spake, 
And blessed his sons by turn; 

According to their blessing brake, 
And thus he charged them on. 

" I shall be gathered to mine own. 
But let my ashes be 
Borne to the field and cave Ephron, 
Machpelah, by Mamre. 

"There Abraham and Sarah lay, 
Rebecca; Isaac, too, 
And there I Leah did convey. 
As thou art bidden, do." 

Then gathered Israel up his feet, 
His work of life was done. 

And yielding up his spirit meet, 
Was gathered to his own. 

O thus may we at setting sun. 

As tranquil sink to rest; 
The work of life as nobly done. 

Be gathered to the blest. 

?13 



JACOB'S WELL. 

In Shecliein's green and lovely vale, 
Begirt with mountains great and tall, 
Where Israel did the blessings call, 
Is Jacob's ancient well. 

With curb-stones furrowed, gray and sage, 
lake centenarian for age. 
Worn by the draw-rope's rasping edge. 
Its tale of time doth tell. 

Before the sphynx, or pyramid. 
Far down the chasm towards the flood; 
When Past in dim tradition stood. 
Was that same ancient well. 

Older than rock-cut Karnak hall. 
Old ere the empires rose or fell; 
What tales its many cycles tell 
Of man and what befell ! 

Ere Moses unto Midian fled. 
Or tended sheep on Horeb's head, 
Or Israel out of bondage led ; 
That well of Shechem stood. 

Before the giving of the law. 
Or Sinai's head the lightnings saw, 
And Israel stood afar in awe, 
Was that old well so crude. 

When Joshua led God's chosen host 
Around old Jericho accursed. 
That well did quench the people's thirst 
In Joseph's fruitful vale. 

214 



Before the walls of Babylon, 
And her proud king in rage and scorn, 
Bore Israel captive and forlorn. 
The well of Jacob was. 

And when there cometh Jacob's star, 
And greater one than Jacob far. 
And sat upon the head-stone there 
And spake his living words. 

When infant in his cradle lay, 
The prophet false of Araby, 
Or bore to utmost sea his sway. 
It saw the bloody fray. 

Saw when the iron kingdom rose 
To zenith over all its foes, 
And fell tremendous at the close 
To make way for the last. 

Saw when the crescent and the cross 
Did to the wage of battle toss, 
And counted all things but as loss 
To win the holy shrine. 

And there is she this latter day. 
Watching across the ages gray, 
And sees the works of man decay. 
That wondrous Shechem well. 

There now may pilgrim go and draw 
As in the day that Jacob saw. 
Ere tooth of time began to gnaw; 
When Joseph dreamed his dreams. 

215 



O well of Jacob, not a sigh. 
B'er came of what thy gifts supply; 
Pure, peaceful, emblem of the sky, 
Harmless and undefiled. 

And why shouldst thou not ever last. 
Be in earth's final trial past, 
Into the new earth standing fast, 
O wondrous, wondrous well ? 



JONAH. 

Now word of God to Jonah came, 

Rise, go to Ninevah; 
That city great, her sin and shame 

Have risen up to me. 

But Jonah sought to Tarshish flee. 
From presence of the Lord; 

Found ship at Joppa, fare did pay, 
And soon was well aboard. 

Then did the Lord send out his wind, 

A tempest on the sea; 
And fear arose in every mind, 

Lest ship should broken be. 

Then to his God each seaman cried, 
Wares cast they in the deep; 

But Jonah was gone down the side, 
And fast he lay asleep. 

Shipmaster came and to him say: 
"What meanest, sleeper, what ! 

Arise, call on thy God, if may 
So be we perish not." 

216 



And each said to his fellow then, 
" Cast lots that we may know, 

For whose cause hath this evil been. ' ' 
The lot to Jonah threw. 

Tell us, they say, and for whose blame 

This evil on the crew; 
Thine occupation; whence thou came, 

And of what people thou. 

And he said, I an Hebrew am; 

I fear the God Most High; 
Who made the sea and the dry land, 

And spreadeth out the sky. 

Then were the seamen all afraid, 
And said, Why didest this ? 

They knew he from the Lord had fled, 
He told of his remiss. 

Said they, What shall we do to thee. 

To make the sea a calm ? 
He answered. Cast me in the sea, 

For I the burden am. 

And yet full hard the seamen rowed. 

To bring the ship to land; 
But could not, for the sea bestrode. 

And wrought against their hand. 

Then thus unto the Lord: " O Lord, 

Let us not need to die 
For this man's life; let not his blood 

Upon our conscience lie." 

217 



Then cast they Jonah in the sea, 
At once the waves were calm; 

They feared the Lord exceedingly, 
And vowed unto his name. 

Now had the I^ord a fish prepared 

To swallow Jonah up; 
Three days and nights the prophet fared; 

Then called to God in hope. 

" 1 cried unto the Lord," he said; 

" In mine affliction, cried, 
I oLit of Sheol's bowels prayed; 

Thou biddest me confide. 

' ' For thou hadst cast me in the deep, 
Thy floods w^ere round about; 

Thy billows over me did sweep; 
Was from thy sight cast out. 

" The weeds did wrap me like a chain, 

I to the depths went down, 
Yet will I hope and look again. 

Till thou with mercy crown; 

" Down to the bottom of the hills, 

Earth with her bars beset; 
Yet will thou save, though hell assails, 

And bring me from the pit. 

" 'Twas when my soul was faint within, 

I thought upon the Lord; 
Then did my prayer acceptance gain, 

He my petition heard. 

218 



"Who to false vanities betake, 
And seek to fly from thee, 

Do their own mercies, Lord, forsake; 
Vain shall their refuge be. 

** I'll sacrifice unto the Lord, 

Thanksgiving will I bring; 
And I will pay that I have vowed, 

And thy salvation sing." 

Then spake the Lord; at his command. 
The fish threw Jonah on the strand. 

***** 
The second time the message came: 

Do thou arise and go 
To Ninevah and preach the same, 

That I unto thee show. 

Jonah arose and journeyed straight, 

According to the word; 
Ninevah was a city great, 

Of three days journey broad. 

Began to enter in a day. 

And thus aloud he cried : 
Yet forty days and Ninevah 

Shall lay in ruin wide. 

The people did in God believe; 

At once proclaimed a fast; 
Did put on sackcloth and aggrieve 

From first unto the last. 

The king sat not upon his throne, 

But laid his robe aside, 
Covered with sackcloth sat himdown, 

In ashes did abide. 

219 



Caused proclamation to be made, 

By the decree of king, 
That man nor beast should drink or feed, 

Or taste of anything. 

But all as one in sackcloth cry, 

Most mightily to God; 
Turn each one from his evil^way, 

And violence aside. 

*' For who can tell if God will turn. 
And from his wrath relent; 
That his fierce anger shall not burn, 
If we will but repent ? ' ' 

God saw the work that they had wrought. 

And he repented too; 
The evil spoke, that did he not, 

He said that he would do. 

But Jonah was o'ermuch aggrieved, 

And very angry he, 
And said, O Lord, this I conceived. 

Before I fled away. 

I knew thou art a gracious God, 

And slow to anger led, 
Of kindness great, and turning mood; 

So I to Tarshish fled. 

And now. Lord, take my life away; 

Better to die than live; 
The Lord said, " Dost thou well to say; 

And at my mercy grieve ? ' ' 

220 



So Jonah went the city east, 

And sat him in the shade, 
Beneath his booth, to see at last, 

What doom might still be laid. 

Then did the Lord prepare a gourd; 

A shelter o'er his head; 
An easement to his grief afford; 

And was the prophet glad. 

Kext day the Lord prepared a worm. 

Smiting the gourd, it died; 
Then east winds came, the sun was warm, 

The fainting prophet cried. 

** Better for me to die than live," 
But God said, ' ' Dost thou well ? ' ' 
He said, '* I do well thus to grieve. 
And death would life excel." 

' ' Thou hast had pity on the gourd, 

That came up in a night; 
Should not I mercy then accord 

A city, that hath quite 
A six-score thousand, can't divide 

Their left hand from their right ? " 



*NE W JER USALEM. 

Jerusalem the golden. 

How wings my heart to thee; 
No good thing is withholden 

From thee, fair bride, from thee. 

221 



Four-square the city lieth, 

The length, the breadth, the height, 
Twelve thousand furlongs plieth; 

Transparent crysolite ! 

As gem of precious jasper, 

Thy light gleams out afar, 
To utmost verge of Hesper, 

And lights up every star. 

Such beatific glory; 

Ten thousand rainbows shine; 
Such wondrous, wondrous story. 

Eternal youth is thine. 

Thy gates are open ever. 
For there shall be no night; 

The foe shall enter never. 
No more the Canaanite. 

Upon thy walls salvation. 

Within thy gates is praise; 
I'm lost in contemplation, 

My spirit doth amaze. 

The kings of earth shall enter, 

And bring their glory in, 
And God thy sun and centre 

Make every heart akin. 

No hunger shall oppress thee, 

Nor thirst or any heat; 
No parting sigh distress thee. 

What friends we there shall greet. 

222 



All barrenness is driven, 
Twelve gatherings a year; 

Twelve mannered fruits are given, 
And thorns all disappear. 

Jerusalem the golden, 
Affliction ne'er attaints; 

No death-bell ever tolled in 
That city of the saints. 

The former things have vanished, 

As if we never knew; 
And pain and grief are banished, 

And all things made anew. 

Gone is the curse forever, 

Healing in every tree; 
The leaves by crystal river. 

The laves in glassy sea. 

There greed and lucre may not 
Have where to hide the head; 

Each from his brother stay not 
Aught of the thing he had. 

O home of God's bright dwelling, 
When shall we go to see ? 

Tongue may not here be telling 
The bliss that is in thee. 

Such music and such rapture 
Flow down the golden streets, 

Methinks all hell should capture 
To know celestial sweets. 

228 



Then let us now be wearing, 
Put holy garments on, 

And even here be sharing 
In glory of the dawn. 

Jerusalem the golden. 

The city of the free; 
With all my sail unf olden, 

I head my bark for thee. 

My heart is set on going. 
My tuneful harp I bring; 

The little I am knowing 
Doth thrill my soul to sing. 



THE BLIND MAN. 

The glassy organ of the sight. 

That pleasure brings to all. 
Could not relieve his cheerless night. 

His darkness did appal. 

For since he drew his infant breath. 
His eyes were seared to light; 

Darker was not the house of death, 
Than his dark orb of sight. 

The sun that lit the golden day. 

The moon and jasper host, 
Gave not unto his eye a ray, 

All light to him was lost. 

Reckoned it was to him for sin. 
That he was blind from birth; 

What more could chill the heart within ? 
No sympathy from earth ! 

224 



But now was Jesus passing by; 

In all that eager throng 
But one could draw the Master's eye, 

Or make his step prolong. 

Go wash, he said; he went his way, 

Promptly in faith obeyed; 
And light shot through his orb that day 

As life comes to the dead. 

Not now with outer eye alone 
His raptured heart could see, 

Glory that all around him shone; 
Unveiled ecstacy. 

The silver clouds, the gorgeous sky, 

The crystal waterbrook. 
The golden temple standing by; 

The Master's melting look. 

The human form, and face divine. 
The green and dancing bowers; 

The day's bright courts of sun and shine; 
The painted birds and flowers. 

More wondrous still the light within; 

Expansion to the view; 
The light that comes with canceled sin, 

When everything is new. 

All doubt dispelled, this thing I find; 
Nothing could plainer be; 
"Whereas I know I once was blind, 
Yet now I know I see. ' ' 

O wouldst thou have an eye to see, 

The high things of the sky ? 
IvOwly among the seekers be. 

When Jesus passes by. 

225 



LAMENT A TIONS.— Chapter I. 

How lonely is the city now, that lately was so full ; 

How like a widow doth she sit, that did the nations rule; 

The princess of the provinces pays tribute to the weak; 

All the dark night she weepeth sore, her tears are on her 
cheek. 



Among her lovers hath she none, hath none to stay her 
grief; 

Her very friends from her estranged, none come to her 

relief; 
Judah is in affliction sore, and grievous servitude, 
Is gone into captivity, hath none to do her good. 

Among the heathen far from rest, o'ertaken in the straits; 

Kow do the ways of Zion mourn, none enter in her gates; 

From Zion's lovely daughter now, is all her beauty gone, 

Her princes are like famished harts, no strength to bear 
them on. 

How sigh her priests, her virgins sad, and she in bitter- 
ness; 
How prosper now the enemy, and she is in distress; 
For thus the I^ord afflicted her, because her sin was great. 
Her children in captivity, before the stranger's gate. 

In her distress she called to mind, her pleasant things of 

old; 
When to the enemy she fell and no one to uphold. 
They saw and did her Sabbaths mock, for she hath greatly 

sinned ; 
Despised and bore her far away, she sighed and looked 

behind. 

236 



Her last end she remembered not, therefore her wondrous 

fall; 
No comfortfer, O Lord behold, the enemy enthral; 
Far off they bear her pleasant things, into thy temple 

come, 
Whom thou didst charge to enter not, profaning all thy 

name. 

Her people sigh, and seek for bread and meat to stay the 

soul, 
Consider Lord, for I am vile, and is it naught to all; 
Will ye pass by, is any grief like unto this to me, 
This that the Lord in anger fierce, hath given me to see ? 

He hath sent fire into my bones, a net laid for my feet; 
Faint all the day hath turned me back, and made me 

desolate; 
The yoke of my transgression, hath he fastened with his 

hand; 
Unto the foe delivered me, nor left me strength to stand. 

My mighty men the Lord in wrath, hath trodden under 

foot; 
The young man and the virgin, hath he in the winepress 

put; 
For this I weep, mine eye, mine eye, with water runneth 

down; 
The comforter that should relieve is far and farther gone; 

Lo, Zion spreadeth forth her hands, with none to give 

her rest; 
The Lord's command for Jacob is, he be by foes oppressed; 
The Lord is righteous, I've rebelled, and Zion is impure; 
Behold and see my grief, our sons and daughters are 

immure. 

227 



I called my lovers, they deceived; my priests and elders 

gone; 
In search of meat to ease their soul, sank down on finding 

none; 
Behold, O Lord, I'm in distress, my bowels are in pain; 
For I have grievously rebelled, my heart is turned again. 

Abroad the sword, at home is death; they hear me how 

I sigh, 
Mine enemies are glad to know that thou hast brought it 

nigh; 
Thou hast a day which thou hast called, they shall be 

like to me; 
Do unto them as they have done, as seemeth right to 

thee. 



LAMENTATIONS.— Chapter II. 

How hath the Lord in anger hid fair Zion with a cloud, 
And cast from Heaven to the earth, his Israel fair and 

proud; 
His footstool he remembered not, the day his anger 

wrought. 
But swallowed up all Jacob's tents, and hath not pitied 

aught. 

Of Judah's daughter, the strong walls he threw upon the 

ground, 
Her kingdom and her princes, all were in pollution found: 
The horn of Israel hath cut off, he hath drawn back his 

hand. 
And hath devoured Jacob quite, as flaming fire-brand. 

228 



As enemy he bent his bow, as adversary stood; 

And slew all pleasing to the eye, where Zion's daughter 

stood; 
The lyord was like an enemy that swallowed Jacob up; 

Her strongholds hath he quite destroyed, and bitter made 
her cup. 

His tabernacles took away, high places where they met, 
The solemn feasts and sabbaths hath he made them to 

forget: 
He hath in indignation strong, despised both king and 

priest; 

His altar hath he cast away, his sanctuary ceased. 

Hath given to the enemy her walls and palaces; 

They in the Lord's own house have come, with loud 
profaning noise: 

The wall of Zion's daughter hath he purposed to destroy, 
Hath stretched a line and drawn not back his hand from 
the employ. 

The wall and rampart hath he made together to lament; 

Her gates are sunk, her king and princes to the Gentiles 

sent: 
No more the law; her prophets find no vision from the 

Lord; 
Her elders sit upon the ground, in silent, sad accord. 

Dust on their locks, with sackcloth girt, the virgins hang 

the head; 
Mine eyes do fail with tears, the daughter of my people 

dead; 

The children swoon in every street, and to their mothers 
say, 

Where is the corn and wine ? and faint, while in their 
bosoms lay; 

229 



What thing shall witness; what is like O Zion unto thee? 

How shall I comfort, for thy breach is great and like the 
sea; 

Thy prophets have seen foolish things, not how to turn 
away 

Thy hands from thine iniquity, and thy hard bondage 
stay. 

All that pass by thee clap their hands, they hiss and wag 

the head; 
Is this the city, joy of earth, perfection as they said? 
Thine enemies have ope'd their mouth, they hiss and 

gnash the teeth; 

This is the day we looked for; we have found it, and 
bequeath. 

That which the Lord devised; commanded in the days of 

old; 
He hath thrown down and pitied not, hath caused them 

to be sold; 
Hath made their enemy rejoice, and hath set up their 

horn; 
Thine adversaries over thee, to leave thee all forlorn. 

O Zion's daughter, let thy tears, like river, night and day. 
Flow without ceasing; give no rest or find a moment's 

stay; 
Arise ! cry out before the Lord, in watches of the night; 
Pour out thy heart like water and lift up thy hands aright. 

For thy young children cry aloud; they faint in every 

street; 
Behold, O Lord, and see to whom thou dost this sorrow 

mete; 
Shall women eat the fruit they bear, the children of a 

span, 
And priest and prophet of the Lord in his own house be 

slain ? 

230 



The young and old lie on the ground; my virgins and 
young men 

Are fallen by the sword; thou hast them in thine anger 
slain; 

My terrors hast thou called around; to pass them, none 
presumed; 

And those that I have swaddled, hath the enemy con- 
sumed. 



LAMENTATIONS,— Chapter IV, 

How is the fine gold dim and changed, the temple stones 
are thrown. 

And Zion's sons like gold are like to potters' pitchers 
grown ; 

Bven the sea-calves draw the breast to give suck to their 
young, 

But Zion's daughter ostrich-like, keeps hers in hunger 
long. 

The tongue of sucking child doth cleave to roof of mouth 

for thirst. 
Young children ask for bread, but none to break unto 

them durst : 

They that did delicately feed are needy in the street, 

And they brought up in scarlet, now upon the dunghills 
meet. 

The punishment of Sodom in a moment overthrown, 

Was less than that of Zion in transgression overgrown : 

Purer than snow her Nazarites, they as the milk were 
white. 

More ruddy than the rubies and more than the sapphires 
bright. 

231 



Now black as coal their visage is, nor on the street are 
known; 

Their skin is withered like a stick and cleaveth to the 
bone; 

Far better they, slain with the sword, than they by hunger 
pressed; 

They pine away all stricken through, in famine gaunt 
distressed. 

The hands of women pitiful, have their own children sod; 

They were their meat when Zion fell beneath the venge* 

ful rod; 
His fury hath the Lord fulfilled, his anger fierce outpoured, 
A fire hath in Zion made, her corner-stones devoured. 

Nor kings of earth, nor people aught, would ever have 

believed. 
To enter Zion's gates the adversary had achieved: 

But sins of prophet and of priest who therein shed the 

blood 
Of just men in her very midst, have called the wrath of 

God. 

They ran as madmen through the streets, with blood 
their garments stained; 

Depart, unclean, they cried, and all men from their touch 

refrained: 
B'en they among the heathen said, they shall not sojourn 

here; 
The Lord in anger, them divides, will not regard their 

prayer. 

Our eyes in watching failed, because the help we sought 

was vain; 
We looked to nation that could not deliverance obtain; 
We cannot venture in our streets, they seek our steps to 

know; 
Our end is near, our days fulfilled, our time is come to go. 

232 



Our persecutors swifter are than eagles of the sky; 
Pursued us on the mountains, and now in the wilds they 

lie; 
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Ivord, 
He in whose shadow we had trust, was in their pitfall 

snared. 

O Edom's daughter, be thou glad, naked and drunken be, 

But know the cup that we do drink, shall also come to 
thee; 

O Zion's daughter, not again shalt thou be moved away; 

But Bdom, he will visit thee for thine iniquity. 



DEBORAH, 



And Israel did evil, when Ehud was dead; 
And Jabin of Canaan did put them in dread; 
In Hazor he reigned, Sisera, his chief. 
The children of Israel cried for relief. 

Of chariots of iron, nine hundred had he, 
A score were the years of oppression to be; 
Now Deborah judge of her people became; 
She dwelt in Mount Ephraim under the palm. 

To her did the people for judgment repair; 
Then sent she and summoned Barak to the war, 
And thus to him said, ' ' Doth not God so command. 
To draw to Mount Tabor, and take to thy hand 

* ' Ten thousand of Zebulon and Naphtali ? 

And I to the Kishon will draw to thee nigh ; 

Sisera, the captain of Jabin's great host. 

And give thee his chariots and all their high boast. " 

233 



And Barak said, "If thou go with me, I'll go; 
But if thou refuse, I can face not the foe; " 
And she said, " I with thee most surely will be; 
Then God to a woman, will grant victory. 

"For he unto me then, Sisera will sell." 
So Deborah rose and went up with a will; 
Then Barak called Zebulon and Naphtali, 
And ten thousand men did respond to the cry. 

'Twas told to Sisera, how Barak went up. 
And Deborah with him to Tabor's high top; 
He gathered together his chariots all, 
And straight to the Kishon they came at his call. 

Then thus unto Barak cried Deborah, " Up ! 
For this is the high day of Israel's hope; 
Lo ! hath not the Lord even now gone before, 
And into thy hand given Sisera o'er?" 

Then Barak, confiding, from Tabor went down. 
And ten- thousand with him that day of renown; 
The Ivord smote Sisera, his chariots and host, 
They fell before Barak as leaves by the frost. 

Then Israel pursued in the strength of the Lord, 
And all the host fell on the edge of the sword; 
But Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, 
She went out to meet him, his fear to dispel. 

"Turn in, my lord, boldly, turn in to my tent; " 
And when he had turned in, she covering lent; 
He said, "Give me water, my thirst to subdue, " 
And giving him milk, he requested anew: 

234 



Stand in door of the tent: if one come and say, 
Is there any man here? then say to him nay; 
But Jael took hammer and nail in her hand, 
Smote into his temples and into the sand. 

And Barak pursued, and thus Jael did speak: 
Come in, I will shew you the man whom you seek; 
And when he came in, lo Sisera lay dead. 
With the nail that Jael did drive in his head; 
Thus God on that high day did Jabin subdue, 
And nevermore did his oppression renew. 



DEBORAH'S SONG. 

Then Deborah sang, even Barak, that day, 
O, praise ye the Lord, who avengeth alway; 
When people are willing to trust in his word, 
Ye kings and ye princes, sing praise to the Lord. 

When thou wentest from Seir, through Edom didst go, 
The clouds did drop water, the heavens dropped dew; 
The mountains did melt at the face of the Lord, 
And Sinai fled before Israel's God. 

In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, 
Of Jael, the highways were shunned for a path; 
The people afraid went the lone crooked ways, 
They made them new gods and the wars did amaze. 

And yet was a spear, or a shield to be seen, 
To outfit a host of two score thousand men? 
The people dare dwell in the village no more. 
Till Deborah rose, till I rose to restore. 

285 



All praise to the nobles, who full in accord, 
Did willingly offer, O bless ye the I^ord; 
Ye that sit in judgment and deal in the weights, 
Sing now how the people go down to the gates. 

Rehearse how the Lord now, our sorrow dispels; 
No more lurk the archers, that hid by the wells; 
Awake, awake Deborah, up and awake, 
Thy glad song be uttered, triumphant Barak. 

Thou son of Abinoam, lead captive thou, 
The foe that hath held thee so long until now; 
Let him that was firm, rule the nobles among, 
The Lord me dominion gave over the strong. 

Of Kphraim, against Amalek was a tribe, 
From Machir came rulers from Zebulon scribe; 
And Issacher's princes were with Deborah; 
Issachir and Barak went down to the war. 

But Reuben's divisions made heavy the heart; 
He lingered in sheepfolds, and cared not to start; 
Gilead beyond Jordan, and Dan in his ships, 
And Asher on seashore, abode in his slips. 

Zebulon and Naphtali knew not to yield; 
Their lives did they risk in high place of the field; 
The kings came and fought by Megiddo's red stream, 
But no gain of money rewarded their dream. 

The stars in their courses did fight Sisera, 

The old river Kishon did sweep them away; 

My soul, O my soul, thou hast strength trodden down; 

Their horse-hoofs were broken on Tabor's high crown. 

236 



Curse Meroz, a curse, said the angel, award. 
They came not to help, to the help of the lyord; 
But blessed above women shall Heber's wife be, 
Thrice blessed be Jael, who slew Sisera. 

When water he asked, she brought milk in a pail; 
One hand to the hammer, and one to the nail; 
Then pierced she his temples and smote off his head. 
He fell at her feet, he bowed down, he lay dead. 

His mother looks out through the lattice and cries, 
"Why tarries his chariot so long with the prize ? 
Full sure they have sped, they've divided the prey; 
A damsel to each, why so long the delay ? 

And needlework wrought with most exquisite skill; 
All meet for their necks, who divide a great spoil; " 
So Lord, let thine enemies melt in thy sight; 
Them that love thee be as the sun in his might. 



JEROBOAM. 

I Kings, XI : xii. 

Now Solomon did not as he had begun, 
To walk with God fully as David had done; 
High places for Moloch and Chemosh did rear, 
His strange wives did worship and sacrifice there. 

The Lord was displeased, who commanded him not, 
But what God commanded, he quickly forgot; 
Wherefore, saith the Lord, as thou yet hast done this, 
Hast not kept my covenant, but gone far remiss, 

237 



Thy kingdom I'll rend, to thy servant will give; 
Though not taking all, yet one tribe will I leave; 
And not in thy day, but in day of thy son, 
As I swore to David to 'stablish his throne. 

^f * * ^f- * * 

Jer'boam of Nebat, then lift up his hand, 
The son of a widow of Kphraim's land; 
A young man of valor; appointed was he. 
The great house of Ephraim to oversee. 

Him, walking outside of the city one day, 
Ahijah, the Shilonite, found in the way; 
A new garment prim had he lately put on, 
And they two were there in the field all alone. 

From off him the new coat the prophet did take, 
In twelve pieces rending, thus unto him spake: 
*' Ten pieces I give thee, for thus saith the I/ord; 
This kingdom I'll rend and will ten tribes award." 

One tribe shall be Solomon's for David's sake, 
And for Jerusalem the city I take; 
For me they've forsaken to serve Ashtoreth; 
And Chemosh and Milcom, provoking my wrath. 

But he shall be prince all the rest of his days, 
For David my servant who walked in my ways; 
The kingdom I'll take from the hands of his son; 
To thee will I give it, the ten tribes to one. 

That one tribe is David's that he have a light. 
In Jerus'lem ever, where I my name write; 
And I will choose thee, and will make thee a king, 
To reign to thy liking, nor lack anything. 

238 



*' And if thou wilt hearken to walk in my ways, 
Do that which is right and will live to my praise, 
I'll build thy house sure, as for David I did; 
Give Israel to thee and afflict David's seed." 

Then Solomon sought Jeroboam to slay; 
To Egypt he fled, and was there till the day 
That Solomon slept; and Re'boam,* his son. 
To be made the king unto Shechem had come. 

"Which, when Jeroboam in Egypt had learned, 
Back came he, and Israel to Re'boam turned: 
"Thy father our yoke did make grievous, so now 
Make lighter that burden, our troth we'll avow." 

Re'boam said, " After three days come again," 

And meanwhile consulted he with the old men; 

They said, "Serve this people, speak good words to 
them, 

And they will serve thee to the peace of thy realm." 

Then Re'boam consulted with the young men, 
Grown up by his side; and they counseled him then: 
" Say thy little finger e'en thicker shall be 
Than loins of thy father, you'll give them to see. ' ' 

Accordingly came they, again the third day; 
The king made reply as the young men did say; 
He answered them roughly, " I'll add to your yoke; 
Chastise you with scorpions," so did he provoke. 

All this was of God, that he thus might perform 
The word by Ahijah unto Jerobo'm; 
When Israel saw that the king hearkened not, 
"What portion in David," cried they, " have we got? " 

♦Rehoboam. 

339 



** And what more inheritance in Jesse's son? 
All ye to your tents, David see to his own." 
And Judah alone to Re'boam did cling, 
Who sent out Adoram his tribute to bring. 

But Israel stoned him, with stones that he died; 
In haste then the king to Jerusalem hied; 
Thus did they, the high house of David disown, 
And none to it clung saving Judah alone. 

And then sent the tribes, Jeroboam to bring, 
And over all Israel to make him the king; 
But Re'boam hasted to fit a great host, 
To bring again to him the tribes he had lost. 

Then word of the lyord to Shemiah did come: 
*' Speak thou to all Judah, and to Rehobo'm; 
Ye shall not go up now, your brethren to slay; 
Return every man, for all this is of me." 

They wisely then hearkened to word of the Lord, 
Returned to their homes as was charged in the word; 
Then Jer'boam spake all this ill in his heart: 
' * If this people go up to house of the I^ord, 

" Their heart shall return to Re'boam again, 
And me shall they kill, and submit to his reign; " 
So said he, '* 'Tis too much for you to go o'er 
To house of the Lord, as ye have heretofore. ' ' 

Then did he take counsel, and calves made of gold. 
One set he in Dan, one in Bethel of old; 
*' Behold now, O Israel, thy gods," said the king, 
*' Which up out of Egypt your fathers did bring." 

240 



And so went the people to worship at one, 
And bow to the other, from Bethel to Dan ; 
Then made he a house of his worship on high, 
Made priests of the lowest and not of Levi. 
Ordained he a feast as in Judah was laid, 
Did honor in Bethel the calves he had made; 
He sacrificed there, nor would heed to depart, 
The day and the month he devised in his heart. 



JEROBOAM A T BETHEL."^ 

Then man of God came by the word of the I^ord, 
From Judah to Bethel, and Jer'boam dared 
To stand by the altar, with incense to burn; 
He cried in the word of God, fearless and stern. 

And thus to the altar: " Lo, thus saith the Lord: 

Thou altar, O altar take heed to the word: 

A child unto David, Josiah by name, 

Shall be, and on thee, shall consume in the flame 

The bones of the priests that burn incense on thee; 
And this is the sign that it even shall be: 
This altar is rent and the ashes poured out. ' ' 
When Jer'boam heard, he in anger did shout: 

"Lay hold on him!" forthwith, then lifting his hand, 
The hand became rigid, he could not command. 
The altar was rent and the ashes were strewn. 
As said the bold prophet that uttered the sign. 

Jer'boam the king, to the prophet appealed: 
*' Entreat now the Lord, that my hand maybe healed;" 

Besought he the Lord, and his hand was restored; 
• ' Come home, ' ' said the king, * *! will give thee reward. ' ' 
*1 Kings XIII. 

211 



Tlie man of God said, "Give me lialf of thine house, 
I'll go not, to eat or to drink, or carouse; 
For so it was charged me by word of the lyord. 
Eat bread, nor drink water, nor turn the same road." 

There dwelt an old prophet in Bethel that day, 
His sons came and told what the man of God say; 
His words to the king, and the works he had done, 
And way he had taken upon his return. 

Then rode the old prophet, and man of God found, 

An oak sitting under, and thus did propound: 

"Art thou man of God, that from Judah did come? " 

He answered him yea; "Come thou then with me 
home." 

" Come with me, eat bread, let thy strength be built 
up." 
He said, "I may neither go with thee, nor sup; 
For so it was charged me by word of the I^ord, 
Eat not thou or drink, neither turn the same road." 

He said, "la prophet am, even as thou; 

An angel spake unto me, let him come now; 

Go back with thee home, let him eat drink and rest," 

But lied he unto him as after confessed. 

Then went he back with him, did eat and alack ! 

Word came to the prophet, whose lie brought him 

back, 
And thus to the brave man, from Judah, he cried, 

"The lyOrd sayeth thus; as thou didst not confide. 

" Hast not kept the word, which the lyOrd did command. 
But came back, hast eaten and drank in the land 
Where God said, let nothing be eat or consumed ; 
Thy bones shall not be with thy father's entombed." 

243 



So after he ate and was gone on his way, 
A lion did meet, and the man of God slay; 
His body lay cast by the side of the road, 
The ass and the lion as sentinels stood 

Men seeing the body thus cast by the way, 
Made known in the town where the old prophet stay; 
And hearing, he sighed, 'tis the brave man of God, 
Who was not steadfast in the word of the Lord. 

Therefore, hath the Lord sent the lion to slay, 
Because he had turned from his warning away; 
Then went he and found him thus cast by the road; 
The ass and the lion as guardians stood. 

And taking the body, it safely was borne. 
And brought to the city to bury and mourn ; 
In his grave he laid him and wailed with the cry: 
Alas, O my brother, alas, thou shouldst die ! 

And when they had buried, spake he to his sons, 
When I'm dead then lay ye my bones by his bones, 
For that which he cried by the word of the Lord, 
Against the high places, shall come in accord. 
And yet Jeroboam forsook not his way, 
'Twas sin to his house, to cut off and to slay. 



ABIJAH'S DEATH. "^ 

Then Abijah, son of Jer'boam, fell sick; 
He said to his wife. Arise thou, and be quick; 
Disguising thyself, that it may not be known 
Whose wife thou may be, and to Shiloh go down. 

*I Kings XIV. 

243 



For there is Ahijah, the prophet who said 
That I should a king be were Solomon dead; 
Ten loaves take along, cruise of honey well filled, 
And hear what he tells thee concerning the child. 

Accordingly did she then hasten to bear, 
And came to the house of Ahijah the seer — 
The old prophet, blind, was unable to gage. 
For set were his eyes by the reason of age. 

To him spake the Lord, Jeroboam's wife comes 
To know of Ahijah; she's filled with alarms, 
For sick is her son; and thus say thou to her. 
For know she another will feign to appear. 

And so when Ahijah heard sound of her feet. 
Approaching the door, with these words did he meet: 
" Come in, O thou wife of Jer'boam, come in; 
Why feignest another when lo thou art seen ? 

* * For to thee am I sent, sad tidings to bring. 
For thus saith the Lord, and go tell thou the king, 
Did not I exalt thee when lo thou wast small, 
And made thee a prince of my own Israel ? 

*' Rent kingdom from David and gave it to thee. 
And yet hast thou not been unto me as he ? 
He followed me fully, to do with his might, 
That only which in my own eyes seemed right. 

" But thou hast done evil, above all before; 
Hast made other gods and hast given me o'er; 
Therefore on thy faithless house will I not fail 
Afiliction to bring, and cut off every male. 

244 



* ' Remove from his house all the remnant and slay 
As one taketh dung until all be away; 
Him that dies in the city, the dogs shall devour, 
And him in the field, the fierce vultures shall tear. 

*' Thus hath the Lord spoken, and go thou therefore, 
And get to thy house — when thou enter the door 
The child shall depart and the nation shall mourn ; 
In him was some good thing to Israel born. 

* * Moreover, the Lord shall yet raise up a king, 

His house to cut off for the wrong he did bring; 
And Israel will God shake as reed in the stream. 
Uproot from this good land he gave unto them. 

* * Will scatter them far the great river beyond, 

Because they made groves and of idols were fond — 
Give Israel up for the sins of Jer'boam, 
Who sinned not alone, but wrought Israel's doom." 
His wife rose for home: when she came to the door. 
The dear child, the light of their home, was no more. 



GIDEON. 



And Israel did evil in sight of the Lord, 
He gave them to Midian to keep them in ward; 
Her strong hand was cruel, to rob and enslave. 
His people sought shelter in mountain and cave. 

And when they had sown the Midianites came, 
Amalek and the East, to ]>lunder and maim; 
To destroy the increase, to devour the flocks. 
Leave nothing for man and as little for ox. 

245 



They came with their cattle, their camels and tents, 
lyike grasshoppers many, that know no relents; 
And Israel dejected, so poor and distressed, 
Made cry to the I,ord, in their want and unrest. 

Then God sent a prophet, who thus did upbraid: 
"I brought you from Egypt, where long had ye staid; 
I drove from before you all that did oppress. 
And gave you their land, and their all to possess. 

And I said, I'm the Lord, yea, even your God, 
Bow not to the idols the Amorites made; 
Yet were ye not faithful, ray words to obey; 
Lo, all this is come as the fruit of your way." 

Then came there an angel, and sat 'ueath the oak. 
In Ophra where Gideon threshed grain with his yoke; 
And hard-by the winepress, to hide from the foe, 
That watched like the vulture, their all to bestow. 

And thus saith the angel, The Lord is with thee, 
Thou mighty of valor, if thou couldst but see; 
And Gideon made answer, O if it be so, 
If thou be then with us, why triumphs the foe? 

Where be all the wonders our fathers have told, 
Of how the Lord brought us from Egypt of old; 
For hath not the Lord now forsaken us quite, 
And given us up to the hard Canaanite? 

The Lord said to Gideon, Take Me for thy strength, 
And thou shalt deliver thy people at length : 
And Gideon made answer, Wherewith shall I save? 
For poor is my house, and the foeman is brave. 

246 



Replied tlie Lord, Surely will I be with thee, 
And Israel as one man shall strike to be free; 
But Gideon said, If I've found grace in my need, 
Then show me a sign that thou talkest indeed. 

Depart not, I pray thee, until I shall bring 

My kid and my cake for a meat offering; 

And so made he haste, and he brought to the oak ; 

The angel said, Pour them all forth on the rock. 

With staff then he touched them, and fire did fall, 
Consuming the flesh, and the sacrifice all. 
Then Gideon saw 'twas an angel of God, 
And said, Alas, Lord, shall I sink to the sod ! 

But, said the Lord, Fear not, for I will not slay; 
So Gideon built altar there, unto this day: 
The angel said. Go now, Baal's altar throw down, 
And cut down the grove that thy father doth own. 

And build thou an altar there, unto the Lord, 
On top of the rock, as I charged in my word: 
And offer burnt sacrifice there on the crown , 
With the wood of the grove thine hand shalt cut down . 

And Gideon did all as ordered, aright. 
And fearing the people, he did it by night; 
And when they arose, in the light of the dawn, 
Baal's altar was thrown, and the grove was cut down. 

Then asked they, "Who did this," reply was at hand, 
"The son of Joash, and his federate band;" 
They said to Joash, " Bring thy son that he die, 
Baal's altar he's thrown and the grove that was by." 

247 



Then Joash made answer, " Dare ye plead for Baal? 
Let such taste of death, ere the morning shall fail; 
If Baal be God, shall not he himself speak? 
Cut down is his grove, and his altar a wreck." 

In that day was Gideon called Jerubbaal, 
He cast down the altar, let who would assail : 
The Midianites came then and pitched in Jezreel, 
So taking a trumpet he blew a loud peal. 

Abiezer, his neighbors, were first to reply, 
Manassah his tribe then arose at the cry; 
Through all the north country sent messengers far, 
And Israel came as one man to the war. 

And Gideon said, " Lord, if thou wilt save by me, 
I'll lay down a fleece, and thus grant it may be: 
The dew on the fleece while it's dry on the sand; 
And so shall I knov/ thou wilt save by my hand." 

And lo it was so, in the morning the dew 
Was wrung from the fleece in abundance to show : 
But Gideon said, " Lord, stay thine anger a space, 
And suffer thy servant once more with the fleece. 

"And now on the ground around let there be dew; 
But dry be the fleece and thy sen/ant shall know. ' ' 
And so the Lord did, and then Gideon rose 
And all that were with him, confronting their foes. 

But God said, * ' The host is too many with thee, 

I fear, lest the people should vaunt against me. 

And say, 'tis mine own hand hath done this great 
deed; 

Now, therefore if any be weak and afraid; 
248 



'* Say, let him return at the break of the dawn;" 
Then went there back twenty and two thousand men. 
And God said, " The host is too great with thee still, 
Bring down to the water and test at the rill. 

** He that laps as a dog with his tongue, take along; 
He that bows on his knees shall not go among." 
So all these took food and their trumpets, and sent 
All other of Israel unto his tent. 

Retained the three hundred that lapped with the 

tongue, 
"While Midian's host lay the valley along. 
And the Lord said that night, " Arise, get thee down, 
The host have I given thy valor to crown. 

' * But if thou do fear, take thy servant and go, 
And hear what they say, and thy courage will grow." 
Then went he with Phurah, his servant, to hear. 
The vast host of Midian spread far and near. 

Their camels were many as sands of the sea, 
Who then but the Lord could assure victory? 
When Gideon drew nigh, did one tell a dream, 
*' I dreamed and a barley-cake tumbled and came 

" Into Midian's camp, smote a tent that it fell; 
And lay all along in the valley, pell-mell." 
'* *Tis the sword of Gideon," his fellow replied, 
" For under him, God bringeth Midian's pride." 

When Gideon heard what was said of the dream, 
He worshiped, and rose with his courage aflame: 
He called his three hundred, and shouted, "Arise; 
For God hath delivered them up for a prize." 

249 



Ill companies three, then he parted his camp; 
To each man a trumpet, a pitcher and lamp; 
And said, " When ye come to the camp, as I do, 
So also do ye; when I blow, do ye blow. 

' ' When the trumpets are loud, each man raise the cry, 
' The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon nigh ! ' " 
So came he and his to outside of the camp, 
Blew trumpets, brake pitchers, and lifted the lamp. 

In the midst of ado, all raise the wild cry, 
'• The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon nigh ! " 
They need but remain, every man in his place. 
All stricken with terror the foe fled apace. 

The three hundred blew and the Lord set the sword 
Of each to his fellow, fulfilling his word : 
Such joy and rejoicing, the host fled away; 
And Israel pursuing are rich with the prey. 

So Midian could lift up her hand nevermore. 
And forty years rest did the people secure: 
Thus faith subdues kingdoms, is valiant in fight. 
Is made strong in weakness, puts aliens to flight. 



ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW. 

Elijah, the Tishbite, of Gilead's land, 

To Ahab in name of the Lord: 
As liveth the Lord God before whom I stand. 
There shall not be dew, neither rain, to thy hand 

These years, but as spake by my word. 

250 



Then word of the Lord to Elijah did say, 
Go hence, turn thee eastward and flee, 
Hide by the brook Cherith, by Jordan and stay, 
And drink of the brook, while the ravens convey 
Thy food, as commanded by me. 

So went he and did as the Lord to him said, 

And dwelt by the brook, as before. 
And the birds to him brought his flesh and his bread; 
At morning and evening the prophet was fed; 

And on the clear brook did he pour. 

But for want of the rain the stream became dry. 

Then word of the Lord came again: 
Arise, get to Zarephath, hard-by the sea. 
For there is a widow, commanded by me 

To keep thee till cometh the rain. 

Then went he, and finding the woman, he said: 

Go fetch me some water, I pray; 
And bring in thine hand but a morsel of bread: 
But as the Lord liveth, she unto him said, 

But handful of meal's in the tray. 

And lo, these few sticks do I gather to go 

And dress it for me and my son : 
To eat it and die; but the prophet said. No; 
Fear not, but go do as I bid thee to do: 

Of the cakes, make first for me one. 

Then afterward make thou, for thee and thy son. 

For thus saith the mighty Lord God, 
The barrel of meal shall not wholly be gone, 
Nor cruise of oil fail, till the day draweth on; 

The Lord shall send rain by his word. 

351 



Then went she and did as Elijah had said, 

And lo, many days did they eat; 
The barrel of meal through the famine was staid, 
Nor did the oil fail, as the prophet conveyed; 

The blessing was full and complete. 

Then after, it hap that her son became ill, 

So sick that he yielded his breath, 
Man of God, exclaimed she, art thou come to kill, 
Call sin to remembrance and vengeance fulfill ? 

The sickness is even to death. 

He said to the woman. Thy son give to me; 

He bore him aloft to his bed. 
And cried, O Lord God, is this evil from thee, 
Brought unto the widow to whom I should flee 

To slay the son only she had? 

Then stretched him three times, and upon the child 
lay. 

And cried to the Lord, O my Lord, 
Let this child's soul again come into him pray. 
The Lord heard the word that the prophet did say, 

His life came again in accord. 

Then taking the child to his mother below, 

Said he. See now how thy son lives; 
And said she, O well now by this deed I know 
That thou man of God art, and that word is true, 

By mouth of his prophet he gives. 

253 



ELIJAH AND AHAB. 

And many days after came word of the Lord, 

And said to Elijah, " Go shew 
Thyself unto Ahab, and rain shall be poured 
On the earth as promised to thee in my word; " 

Elijah was faithful to go. 

In Samaria now the famine was sore; 

Ahab to Ob'diah did send; 
This same Obadiah was faithful afore, 
And hid the Lord's prophets when Jezebel swore 

To cut off every head in the land. 

And Ahab said, " Let us now go through the hills, 

And search by all fountains and brooks; 
We may chance to find grass in some of the vales, 
And yet save the beasts, or every hope fails." 
They searched in all corners and nooks. 

So dividing the land, went Ahab one way, 

Ob'diah taking another; 
But who Obadiah 's dismay can portray? 
Elijah comes meeting in open noonday, 

As if saluting a brother. 

When Obadi' saw him, he lowly did fall, 

And said, "Art thou then Elijah? " 
He answered, *' I am, and tell Ahab withal 
Elijah is here, and he on him will call, 

And harm shall nowise betide you." 

253 



Yet was Obadiah all filled with dismay; 

And said he, "Why should I not fear? 
Wouldst thou give me over to Ahab to stay? 
In all lands he seeks thee, and now dost thou say, 

*Go tell him Elijah is here.' 

"And when I am gone, God shall carry thee far; 

The whither I'll know not forsooth; 
And when Ahab cometh, and thou art not here. 
My life shall be forfeit, and yet do I fear, 

The Lord from the days of my youth. 

* ' But as the Lord liveth before whom I stand, ' ' 
Replied he, " I'll see Him this day; " 
Then went Obadiah, as he had command. 
And Ahab his way to Klijah did wend, 
' ' Why thus trouble Israel, pray ? ' ' 

And Elijah made answer, " It is not I, 

But thou and thy own wicked line; 
For ye have forsaken the Lord, the Most High; 
Hast followed Baalim, your God to defy, 

And made all his Israel sin. 

"Now send ye and gather me Israel all. 
And priests all that Jezebel fed; 
The priests of the groves and the prophets of Baal 
Assemble ye all to the top of Carmel; " 
He did as Elijah had said. 

And then in their presence the prophet did say, 

' ' How long do ye halt in your mind ? 
If the Lord be your God, do ye Him obey. 
If Baal, him follow without more delay; " 
The people no answer could find. 

254 



And Elijah said, *' I, I only remain, 

A sole prophet of the most high; 
But Baal has fifty and four hundred men; 
Then give us two bullocks; yours kill and be lain 

On altar, with no fire nigh, 

"And I'll dress the other and lay it on wood, 

And no fire put, ye shall see; 
And then ye shall call on the name of your God, 
And I will then call on the name of the Lord; 

He that answers by fire, is He." 

Then the people responded, " It is said well." 

Elijah said, " Choose ye the best, 
And dress ye your bullock, and do ye then call 
On the name of your Gods, with no fire at all; " 

The bullock was chosen and dressed. 

Erom morning till noon called they upon Baal, 

And said, ** Baal, hear us, O hear ! " 
But Baal in answer did utterly fail; 
They leaped on the altar, it did not avail; 

No voice or response did appear. 

Then Elijah deriding, said: " Cry, cry aloud; 

He's talking, or journeying he; 
Peradventure he sleeps or must be abroad; " 
They cut them with knives, and were crimson in blood. 

Till eve, yet no sign was to see. 

Then Elijah called unto all to come near; 

They promptly the prophet obeyed; 
The Lord's broken altar then did he repair 
With a stone for each tribe of Israel there, 

And trench round the altar he made. 

255 



The wood put in order, the bullock did cut, 

With water four barrels did fill; 
Now pour on the sacrifice, and on the wood; 
The second time do it said he, and they did; 

The third time, and so did they still. 

The water did run 'round the altar about, 

And the trench it also did fill; 
Elijah said, " Lord, let it now be found out 
How that thou, the true God of Israel art. 

And that I've done this at thy will. 

"O hear me, Lord, hear, and this people shall know, 

That thou art the God of the rain; 
That I am thy servant, O mightily show, 
And answer by fire, and so shall they know, 

And turn to thy worship again." 

Then fell the Lord's fire, consuming the wood, 

The sacrifice, stones, and the dust; 
And licking the water in trenches that stood. 
The people fell crying, "The Lord, he is God; 

The Lord is the true and the just." 

Klijah said, " Take now the prophets of Baal; 

Do not even one of them spare." 
They took them and brought them all down to the vale 
Of Kishon, and there did they slay without fail; 

So Baal was put away there. 

Then said he to Ahab, "Arise, get thee down ! 

Bat, drink; there is sound of the rain; " 
But Elijah went up to Carmel's high crown, 
In burden of prayer he cast himself down; 

His knees with his face in between. 

256 



Then said to his servant, " Go ! look to'ards the sea; " 
He looked, "There is nothing," he said; 

"But go you and look, seven times," replied he. 

"At last, now a little cloud rising I see. 
As a man's hand seemeth to spread." 

"Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare, get thee down, 

That rain may not hinder thy wheel; " 
The meanwhile vv^ith dark clouds the heavens did frown, 
Immense was the rain and the streams overgrown ; 

And Ahab made haste to Jezreel. 



DANIEL. 



Now Daniel was first of the men of the realm : 
Of the great ship of State he stood at the helm; 
But nobles and princes all plotted to whelm, 

And him to destroy; 
So wove they web of the subtlest film 

In which to decoy. 

They sought to find fault in affairs of state. 

But Daniel was faithful as Premier great; 

In things of his God then they sought in their hatt 

And wiles to ensnare, 
Thus skilfully plotting to compass his fate. 

They frame the affair. 

O king, live forever ! we all do agree 
To make and establish a royal decree; 
If any petition, O king, save of thee, 

For yet thirty days, 
He cast in the den of the lions shall be; 

O king, let it please. 

257 



"And sign thou the writing, and let it be done, 
And never be altered while rolleth the sun. 
Or sitteth a king of the Medes on the throne. ' ' 

The writing was signed. 
When Daniel knew all as afore he knelt down 
And fully resigned. 

And three times a day, with his window ajar. 

Towards the dear city and temple afar, 

He poured out his soul in the strong tide of prayer; 

As if he could hear 
The far-away hammers in haste to repair, 

Dear Zion once more. 

And then came the princes, delighted to find 
Their intrigue succeeding, as they had combined. 
They spake to Darius: O king, hast thou signed 

And made a decree: 
If any petition, O king, save of thee. 

The den he must see? 

Responded Darius, The matter is so. 

A law with his signet, no man may undo — 

No princes or king of the Medes overthrow. 

Then hear us, they say, 
This Daniel of Judah regardeth not thee, 

Nor yet thy decree. 

But three times a day he maketh his prayer; 

O sad was Darius, the king, thus to hear. 

Till nightfall he labored, if chance he might clear 

His great Premier. 
But know, said the princes, no one may repair 

What king doth declare. 

358 



Then commanded the king, and Daniel was cast 
Into the wild den to be torn of the beast; 
Thy God, said Darius, will surely make haste 

And come to thy aid. 
A stone was then brought with his signet made fast, 

But some one was sad. 

That night there was fasting, where choristers sing; 
No dulcimers sweet made the corridors ring; 
And sleep went away like a bird on the wing. 

The king was distressed; 
Full early he rose and went in hot haste. 

And hoping the best. 

With tremulous voice unto Daniel he cried: 
O Daniel, thy God on whom thou hast relied, 
Say, can he deliver who in him confide? 

And Daniel said, 
O king, live forever, the lions are tied — 

No hurt to me did. 

For God sent his angels, their mouths hath he bound, 

For I was before him in innocence found. 

And before thee, O king, my way hath been sound. 

Then was the king glad, 
Andmandate was made, Take him up from the ground. 

They promptly obeyed. 

And Daniel was found to be free from all harm; 
They bring his accusers in dreadful alarm ; 
Their wives and their little ones to the strong arm, 

Of lions they throw; 
The lions were masters, and rent limb from limb — 

A dire overthrow. 

259 



Then was it decreed so that all men should hear, 
Before Daniel's God all should tremble and fear; 
For he is the Living God, steadfast fore'er. 

His kingdom shall stand; 
'Tis he worketh wonders, delivers, and ne'er 

His power shall end. 

So Daniel was great in Darius' reign, 

As also in that of the great Persian ; 

What triumphs his faithful may ever attain. 

Who, true to their God, 
Turn not to the right or the left for the gain 

The world can afford. 



IVAVS OF TRUTH, 

I. 

The ways of Him, the Mighty One, 

Who only spake and it was done; 

And worlds innumerable stood. 

He them surveyed and called them good. 

Good for the end He had designed. 
To make him known the Gracious mind. 
For things unseen may best be learned, 
When through his outer- works discerned. 

He sleepeth not as drowsy Brahm, 
But worketh hitherto, I am; 
He let no countless ages pass. 
His fiat and creation was. 

For he who is the light must shine, 
Love may not willingly decline; 
His nature moved Him to make known 
His name; to know is life eterne. 

360 



Know then he needs his works display, 
For love may not permit delay; 
Hence in the far eternity 
He summoned the great worlds to be. 

But Spirit first, the Master Mind, 
Designer, then the thing designed; 
Of days without beginning He, 
All else must wait his word to be. 

And so from age to age untold. 
These wondrous spheres above have rolled; 
Onward so rapid and so bright. 
Resting, ' 'yet rest not day nor night. ' ' 

O wondrous He who gave them chime. 
And brings them strictly up to time; 
Chronometers that never err, 
Though ages countless been astir. 

II. 

What emblems of the steadfast name, 
Forever, evermore the same; 
No shadow of a change has He, 
To-day the same as yesterday. 

I^eam then to hold his name in awe, 
And move in orbit of his law; 
For he is light, and life, and rest. 
And who in Him abide are blest. 

His word and promise then are sure, 
Y/ho stands thereon is most secure; 
In vain the darkness shall assail. 
No dart can pierce his coat of mail. 

261 



Take no offence that sin abound, 
lyight causeth not the darkness round, 
Makes it our stepping-stone to climb, 
From stone to stone, to heights subhme. 

Then blame not him if evil be. 
He comes to make the darkness flee; 
As tears will come within the eye, 
To wash the painful mote away. 

III. 
And come it will the golden dawn, 
When righteousness shall reign alone, 
When earth is ransomed from the thrall 
And God and love are all in all. 

For this the expecting creature waits. 
Subject with man to adverse fates; 
With man to be delivered too. 
And higher destiny pursue. 

Subject to vanity no more. 
Carnivorous teeth shall flesh devour; 
No hooked beak or tearing claw. 
When love is nature's final law. 

Thistle shall not curtail the yield. 
Nor thorns retard the happy field; 
In golden plenty fruits shall grow, 
And flowers bloom and fountains flow. 

Be ours to help along the day, 
And draw from lower things away. 
From passion, greed and pride and sin, 
And haste the golden morning in. 

263 



IV. 

First made He, Bden, then the man, 
Prepared the place the tenant then; 
As Christ to his disciples too, 
I go prepare a place for yon. 

Transgression came; fault-finding, hate, 
Complete the change in Adam's state; 
And Eden is no longer home, 
The wayward son sets out to roam. 

This law obtains creation through, 
In heaven and earth and hell 'tis true; 
A change in tenant, change in place, 
From grace to sin, from sin to grace. 

So the lyord God drove out the man , 
So man went out, the Lord to shun ; 
Who then would blissful heaven gain. 
Must heavenly-mindedness obtain. 

For out of fitness, out of rest, 
Out of our orbit, sore distressed; 
As wandering world, collision meets. 
Consuming fire the wreck completes. 

V. 

The v/oman saw, she took and ate, 
By sight man lost his high estate; 
By faith the second Adam stood. 
Firm planted on the written word. 

263 



The subtle tempter plied his art, 
Yet harmless fell his angry dart; 
The floods of hell could not submerge: 
That Rock was higher than the surge. 

Advantage on the first man's side; 
No hunger had he to betide; 
For we may eat of all, said she, 
Save that one central garden tree. 

The second Adam hungry fell 

Into the subtle wiles of hell; 

No morsel had he to relieve 

The pangs his long-drawn fasting gave. 

The first man dwelt in body whole, 
No sin in motion through it stole; 
The second, though in flesh infirm, 
Could not the powers of darkness harm. 

The first man had dominion great, 
All outer nature at his feet; 
The next not where to lay his head. 
With the wild beasts he found a bed. 

The first man met with loss of all, 
Outward and inward was the fall; 
More than the loss the second's gain, 
As tides roll higher on the main. 

Offence of one and many die, 
Much more doth grace abound for aye; 
Know we shall conquer through the word, 
Abiding in steadfast accord. 

264 



VI. 

Contrast with this the evil one, 

In unbelief, his speech begun: 
" If thou then be the Son of God, 
Command these stones be turned to bread. 

Or show a sign that I may see, 
'Tis evidence withheld from me; 
Could I but see, might I believe, 
And all my crushing loss retrieve. 

Show us a sign, exclaimed the Jew, 
As Moses did, do even you; 
"A wicked generation," this, 
In sight and unbelief remiss. 

God wrought his signs in Egypt's land, 
Pharaoh did not discern the hand; 
' ' Who is the Lord? I know him not, 
Nor suffer Israel to go out." 

Jer'boam did not wiser stand, 
Dumbstricken with his palsied hand; 
Nor yet when instantly restored 
All by the same Almighty word. 

Signs did not profit Jezebel, 
Though showers came and fire fell : 
' ' God do to me, and greater too, 
If I make not the prophet rue." 

Signs are but sight, and slow of cure, 
And seeing one we ask for more; 
What man addicted to the glass. 
Indulges that the thirst may pass? 

265 



Walk not by reason, creed or sight; 
The written word, be all your light; 
No more a trembling, shaken reed; 
Hear the strong voice across the flood. 

VII. 

And limit not the Holy One, 
For as your faith shall it be done; 
Bring empty vessels not a few, 
The widow was enjoined to do. 

When there was not a vessel more, 
The oil abundant, ceased to pour. 
Nothing too hard for God to grant. 
Except our unbelief prevent. 

Exhaustless is his bank of grace, 
He honors drafts of largest face; 
At once the foulest of the foul 
Is made by faith completely whole. 

Life more abundant is the need, 
To vitalize a living seed, 
That, springing by the sultry way, 
Will bear a nation in a day. 

VIII. 

Sleep not as Peter, James, and John, 
When glory all around them shone; 
When they awoke, was Heaven near, 
" Lord, 'tis a good thing to be here." 

To sleep and dream, and take for true 
The things that are not, and pursue 
As things that are; is not the Sphynx 
As wise, although it never thinks ? 

266 



To all intent as well be dead, 

Unto no useful purpose led; 

To know the things of God aright, 

Awake, and Christ will give you light. 

No sleeper did another wake, 
Himself needs the arousing shake; 
So lest the church her labor lost, 
God sent the rousing Pentecost. 

Awake, said Deborah, awake; 
Then roused the lethargic Barak; 
The Canaanites were put to rout. 
Rose Israel's triumphal shout. 

Awake, submissive to his will, 
As marble to the Master's skill; 
He'll fashion thee a vessel meet. 
To honor and to life complete. 

IX. 

Ask not with Pilate, what is Truth? 
I^uU of impatience doubt and ruth, 
Truth is, and truth will ever be. 
He that is true will come and see. 

As two and two are four, and sure 
To all eternity endure. 
Truth cannot change, and cannot pass. 
And why should moral truth be less? 

Seek not like Pilate, tossed about 
By every wind, caprice and rout; 
Truth walketh not with winding feet. 
To shun the bitter, taste the sweet. 
267 



That wliicti is right, must aye be done, 
Though planets rush into the sun; 
Asks not what is expedient, 
Though mountains from their base be rent. 

And Truth is earnest, like the light. 
Does what she will with all her might; 
The double-minded can not find, 
Nor he of an unstable mind. 

She comes to us with beaming face, 
Joy is her claim to our embrace; 
On all will she her joy confer 
Who seek with all the heart for her. 

She never gets across the line. 

We go to her or we decline; 

Who upright lives the truth will know, 

And how the truth to others show. 

He of the truth will hear her voice. 
Will follow and in her rejoice; 
The wrong will he discern from right. 
As lamb doth know the wolf at sight. 

X. 

All beauty seen beneath the sun 

Is symbol of the Holy one; 

Beauty of mountain, lake, and stream, 

Is but reflection of his beam. 

The glory of his upper globes 
Is whiteness of his outer robes; 
His countless messengers so bright 
Shine in effulgence of his light. 

268 



His unseen glory more than seen; 
What is his hidden glory then ? 
Worship the Lord in spotless dress, 
The beauty of his holiness. 

And as his beauty so his joy, 

Full and supreme without alloy; 

A fount with gushing overflow, 

That all may come and drink and know. 

A fountain never running dry, 
Its source in deep infinity; 
No hap the power to lessen hath, 
Come gain or loss or life or death. 

"My joy in you, your joy were full," 
This Calvary could not annul; 
He for the joy endured the cross; 
Truth's servant cannot suffer loss. 

XI. 

Draw nigh to him, doth reason say; 
Herein our mighty power lay; 
Our little moon affords us light. 
More than the distant orbs of night. 

If nigh to him, then nigh to man; 
As that far-off Samaritan 
Was neighbor, when the priest went by, 
And left the helpless man to die. 

We through this glass his people scan, 
Or true or false as nigh to man ; 
The Spirit of the Pentecost 
lycts no one rue the things he lost. 

269 



XII. 
In looking out upon the sky, 
Through window with the panes awry, 
Or foul and dingy, unto you 
The day is foul and dingy too. 

And that, though never day so bright, 
Sun never shone in fairer light; 
You darken not the day, 'tis true. 
And yet you make it dark to you. 

So viewing God with heart impure, 
Your God to you will be demure; 
Yet will you deem you see aright. 
That God is all unlovely quite. 

But would you see Him as he is, 
Look through a true transparent glass; 
Away with thought, opinion, creed, 
The pure word is the glass you need. 

All others make their God awry, 
And insofar believe a lie; 
As looking in a glass untrue. 
Yourself will be awry to you. 

The sweetest face will crooked seem. 
Reflected in a wavy stream. 
And truth unlovely will appear. 
If heart and life be insincere. 

270 



SACRED SONGS, 



PASSING THROUGH EDOM.-^ 

Passing through the land of Edom, 

We will keep the king's highway, 
All her flocks, her wells and vineyards 

Shall not tempt our feet to stray. 
We are pilgrims and sojourners, 

We can tarry but a night; 
For we seek a better country, 

And a city out of sight. 

Cho. — Only let us pass thy border, 

Nought of thine will we molest; 
Only let our way be shorter. 
To our Canaan and our rest. 

We have tasted of the manna, 

And the brook along the way; 
We have learned to sing hosanna, 

And our night is turned to day. 
Long in Egypt's tribulation, 

Now to Kadesh we have come. 
Where the glory gleam eth o'er us, 

And the heart is sick for home. 

Come thou with us, halleluiah ! 

Triumph waits on Jacob's star, 
Unto him shall come dominion; 

Sons and daughters from afar, 
With the oil of joy and gladness, 

In the dew of youth and song; 
Bright in garments of salvation, 

Spoil dividing with the strong. 



•Numbers XX: 17. 

271 



LET IT SHINE. 

Hath God lit his light in thee ? 

Let it shine: 
It was meant that all might see, 

Don't confine: 
Give it wings, and bid it fly- 
Far as sin and hell defy; 
Doom is on thee, shine or die; 

Don't decline. 

What if men say, he is mad, 

Cast him out ! 
So they of the prophets said; 

Raise the shout; 
"Walls of Jericho shall fall, 
Sons of giants great and tall; 
God in thee is more than all; 

Cease to doubt. 

Wouldst thou keep the light within ? 

Send it out; 
He who kept his garments clean 

Went about. 
Draw not thou the curtain down, 
Ivcst the darkness on thee frown; 
Father and the Son are one. 

Parting not. 

Who hath Christ, must him confess, 

God declares; 
Who hath light must shine and bless, 

Banish fears. 
Giving hath the more increase. 
But withholding, less and less; 
Give, and more will you possess. 

Endless years. 

272 



Think of God's abundant grace, 

Thee to call; 
Anxious to reveal his face 

Unto all. 
Think what darkness reigns around; 
Few the visions faith hath found; 
Cast some light on holy ground, 

Lest you fall. 



FOREVER LEARNING. 

Vain man, O when will he be wise? 
Forever learning, yet the prize 
Eluding still his eager eyes; 
Vv hen will he ? 

Full sure not till he seek aright. 
In heart and not in head, the light. 
Seeking by faith and not by sight; 
Then will he. 

In vain the school on every hill. 
In vain the course be upward still, 
God locates wisdom in the will; 
And must we. 

"I seek not mine own will," said He, 
"But will of Him that sendeth me; " 
Therefore, I and the truth agree, 
So will we. 

Seek first, not learning, wealth, or dress, 
God's kingdom and his righteousness; 
Then, all things needful you'll possess; 
O will ye? 

«73 



Knowledge was Satan's fell device, 
Seducing man in Paradise; 
Another Baal in disguise; 
Lust, lust, lust. 

In all let God be uppermost, 
Make Him your first and greatest trust; 
All else, like Sodom's apples, dust, 
Dust, dust, dust. 



FORECASTING TIMES. 

Watchman, tell us of the night. 

What these wondrous signs presage! 
Years prophetic cast their light 

Over this momentous age; 
Many running to and fro, 

Knowledge to an idol grown; * 
Riches heaped for worldly show, 

God's strong gospel tempered down. 

Chorus : — Is the latter day at hand ? 

Who is wise should understand. 

Are the Gentile times fulfilled, 

And will Judah now return ? 
Now his restless heart be stilled. 

Gathered from his long sojourn; 
What this shaking of dry bones ? 

Israel quickened into life ! 
What this heaving of the thrones ? 

Gog and Magog to the strife ! 
*Dan. XII. 4. 

274 



Bxpectation rising high ; 

Is the fig-tree putting leaves ? 
Is the summer drawing nigh ? 

Are we gleaning mid the sheaves? 
Cometh he, the wondrous king; 

He v^^hose right it is to reign; 
Shall we halleluiah's sing, 

And the jubilee refrain ? 

Chorus : — Is the harvest nigh at hand ? 

Who are wise should understand. 



RESURRECTION, 

O night of all nights, the saddest the darkest; 

Hope and their Lord are both laid in the tomb; 
He that was to redeem Israel sleepest. 

The Light of the world has gone out in gloom. 

Hell in her railing said, " Now let him have him, 
Where are the wonders he said he would do? 

Where is the kingdom the Lord of all gave him? 
Let Him come down, we'll believe on Him too." 

Low is their hiding, in fear and in sadness; 

The children must fast, the Bridegroom's away, 
But out of our sorrows bringeth he gladness, 

Out of our darkness he bringeth the day. 

The first gleam of morn doth signal to heaven; 

One flash from the skies, the keepers are dumb, 
The proud seal of Rome, the bars of death riven; 

He that was dead, is alive from the tomb. 

Sing of his triumph, all triumphs excelling: 

The beautiful life-gates ever ajar, 
O sing to the Lord, all darkness dispelling, 

Sing to Jehovah, the strong man of war ' 

275 



SONG AT THE NATIVITY. 

O lovely hills of Judah, and David's city fair, 
Where rung those glad hosannas, upon the midnight air ; 
Where sung those shining seraphs, in glory like the sun, 
A song too great to utter, of God and man in one. 

No mortal fingers striking those harps divinely strung; 
No shrill war-trumpet liking,but sword and spear are hung : 
O hear the blissful rapture ! may this world never lose; 
It must her war gods capture to hear the melting news. 

O wondrous expectation ! Messiah waited long, 

Hope of the ancient nation, will bring redress for wrong. 

The poor will hear good tidings, the pris'ner drop his 

chain ; 
And peace will come abiding, like sunshine after rain. 

On Zion's royal mountain celestial dews will fall; 
In David's house a fountain shall open free to all; 
For David's son, the Mighty, the Prince is come to reign I 
They'll overturn his kingdom, no, nevermore again. 

Blessed be the humble shepherds, keeping their flocks by 

night; 
They saw what kings desired, but died without the sight; 
So let us too be watchful, and ready now to go; 
And stop not at Jerus'lem to. let base Herod know. 

To Bethlehem keep pressing till we shall find and see, 
That what the Lord hath told us hath surely come to be. 
Then we'll return rejoicing, and tell it all abroad; 
Many shall see the glory, and choose the way to God. 

276 



ON TO BETHLEHEM. 

Follow the light, obey the star, 
And stop not at Jerusalem; 

Though her bright temple shine afar, 
Your way is on to Bethlehem. 

Cho. — Obey the light, turn not aside, 

Lest Satan triumph in your pride. 

'* Where is he born, King of the Jews ? 

For we have come to worship him; 
We saw his star, yet now refuse 

Its rays upon our path to beam. ' ' 

** In Bethlehem," the sage reply. 

The wise men now resolve to go; 
Again the star, again the joy, 

Bent now to haste and see and know. 

'Tis Herod's trouble when he learns 
A king unto the Jews is bom; 

His cruel sword for murder yearns. 
And Rachel weeps her children torn. 

The infant Christ must hie afar 
To Egypt for a sheltering home. 

All, that the wise men left the star, 
And went not through to Bethlehem. 

277 



SPRING UP, O WELL.^ 
Spring up, O well, sing, sing in gladness, 

Tile gift of God, so cool and clear; 
Now hath he turned away our sadness. 

And home, sweet home, is very near: 

Cho. — Yes, home, sweet home, we soon shall come, 
Just on the border, almost home. 

Spring up, O well, the princes digged it. 
And God in wisdom taught them where, 

For he can give his people water, 
Believe his love and trust his care. 

Ye brooks of Arnon, gleeful, springing 
Like little lambs amongst the hills; 

Take up the song, and send it ringing. 
All Moab's dancing mountain rills. 

Sing to the Lord, let Sihon hear it, 
He'll know our mighty God is near; 

And what he did in Kgypt's waters. 
He can renew in Arnon here. 

.Spring up, O well, flow on forever; 

Earth's sultry wilderness is past; 
We'll thirst no more, we'll hunger never; 

Sweet rest in heaven, home at last. 

Cho. — O home, sweet home, at last we've come, 
The weary pilgrim safe at home. 



•Numbers XXI: 17. 

278 



/ MUST SING. 

I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

Fair is he above the sun ; 
When he looketh through the lattice, 

Then my heaven is begun; 
I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

If I'm mute the stones will cry, 
Trees and hills contend in praises; 

Memnon sang and shall not I ? 

Chorus: — I must sing of the precious Jesus, 
More than all besides to me; 
From the lion's mouth he frees us, 
Sing ye heavens, earth and sea. 

I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

Uncomplaining suffering Truth; 
Silent when the shearer seizes. 

So he opened not his mouth; 
I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

How he washes white as snow; 
Made me sit in heavenly places. 

And more than the ancients know. 

I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

Spoil he taketh from the strong; 
Gates of death and hell he seizes. 

And he brings the keys along; 
I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

Him so lowly, raised so high; 
Ask the thousand times ten thousand, 

And the thousand thousands why. 

279 



I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

He will surely come again; 
Bring the jubilee releases, 

And his glad eternal reign; 
I must sing of the precious Jesus, 

More than all the world to me; 
Sweeter than the spicy breezes, 

Wafted from a jasper sea. 



THE GOOD SAMARITAN, 

lyO, one left of the robbers lay 
Half dead along the downward way; 
There came a priest, but in his pride. 
He passed by on the other side. 

Likewise, a lycvite came and saw. 
But deemed it prudent to withdraw. 
At last one least expected came, 
Far-off his home, despised his name, 

An alien and a hated foe, 
Yet had compassion when he saw; 
Came where he was, assumed his lot. 
Gave of his means, and asking not. 

Peculiar man; he went about. 

The secret of his finding out. 
Heart foremost to the Jew he came. 
Subduing wrath in mercy's name. 

Bound up his wounds with oil and wine, 
Conveyed him softly to the inn; 
Took care of him and paid the w^ay; 
"Whatever more I will defray." 

280 



Which one was neighbor of the three, 
And which for you shall pattern be ? 
Think how One found us in our blood, 
Took all our stripes, brought us to God. 



JESUS THE LIGHT. 

Jesus, light of the world, I sing. 

The precious gift of God; 
Vain our silver and gold to bring, 

For priceless is his blood. 
Jesus, the meek and lowly light, 

He shone not to be seen ; 
But that the sightless have their sight 

And the unclean be clean. 

Jesus, the all-enduring light. 

He answered not again; 
His cheek they wounded, back did smite, 

He bore the scoffs, the pain. 
Jesus the blessed, harmless light, 

With healing in its wings. 
Keeping its spotless garments white, 

It rises and shines and sings. 

Jesus the light must hie away. 

No scrip or staff provides. 
For work he must while it is day. 

The coming night betides. 
Jesus, the self-denying light, 

Not where to lay his head; 
Foxes have holes and birds at night 

Their soft and downy bed, 
^1 



Jestis, the free, all-giving light, 

No good thing doth withhold; 
All things are yours, and ye are his, 

One shepherd and one fold. 
Jesus, the light, patient and bright, 

Waiting outside your door; 
Wet are his locks with dews of night, 

How can he give thee o'er? 

Jesus, the light, the same to all, 

The rich as to the poor; 
Respecting not the palace hall 

More than the cottage door. 
Jesus, the light, keep well in sight. 

And walk his lowly way; 
At evening-time it shall be light, 

At dawn a perfect day. 



ABBEJSTBA. 



Mill Mountain is a bold spur of the Blue Ridge, 
just outside the city of Roanoke. A river of the 
same name winds at its base. From its side gushes 
the Crystal Spring which supplies the city with de- 
licious water. In 8th verse and 2nd line read 
' ' wonders ' ' for wonder. 

In the poem, " Ben Bolt's Return," the first line 
should read: 

O heyday, is it yourself, Ben Bolt? 

The third line of the second verse, in the poem 
''Joseph," should read: 

Egyptians heard and Pharaoh's own. 

In the poem, " Growing Old," page 102, in third 
line of third verse, omit the word " was." 

In 1832 four Flathead Indians came from Oregon 
to St. Louis to obtain for their people the ' ' White 
man's Book of Life. ' ' Some christian trappers had 
told them of the One Supreme Being, and of His 
book of revelation to men. Two of their number 
died at the city named and were buried beside the 
great river. The others were loaded with gifts and 
banqueted, but could get no one to return with 
them to explain the white man's religion. One of 
the braves made a speech of much pathos and elo- 
quence on which our poem, " The White Man's 
Book of Heaven," is based. 

The poem of ' ' The Seven Times ' ' needs brief 
explanation. Read the XXVI chapter of Leviticus, 
also the IV of Daniel. 

Moses's warning to the Jews in Leviticus is re- 
peated four times in the chapter named. 

Daniel repeats four times to Nebuchadnezzar 
that seven times shall pass over him. 

This could never be said of him as an individual, 



as seven times constitute a period of 2,520 years. 
Nebuchadnezzar is here then a representative char- 
acter, impersonating the Gentile kings, being the 
instrument in God's hand of overturning his the- 
ocracy, and of scattering his people for their sins. 
For the above period they were to forfeit his favor; 
Gentile kings to hold sway over them and Jerusalem 
be trodden down. Gentile supremacy and Jewish 
subjection both began at the time Nebuchad- 
nezzar carried Judah captive to Babylon B. C. 
587. Add to this the 1904 years since, and 
we see how nearly the Jews have filled up the years 
of God's displeasure. ' ' Jerusalem shall be trodden 
down of the Gentiles until these times of the Gen- 
tiles are fulfilled. ' ' Then should we look for the 
restoration of the theocracy in the house of David. 
The angel speaking of Jesus said: 

' ' The Lord God shall give unto him the throne 
of his father David, and he shall reign over the 
house of Jacob forever. " 



SEP 26 1904 



